Pest Info
We know our pests!
Find out more information here about pests that are common to the Northwest and how we control them
Pantry Pests
The Facts
Nobody likes the idea of opening a bag of food, only to find insects crawling inside. That's gross! There are a number of pantry pests that are often brought into homes in stored foods, only to reproduce and infest a kitchen. This is usually due to bringing in items that have had little quality control, and has nothing to do with poor housekeeping. Common pantry pests are the carpet beetle, Indian meal moth, weevil, and the drugstore and cigarette beetle. These insects have a complete metamorphosis, which means you may find larva, pupa, or winged adults crawling in food items and through your kitchen. With the Indian meal moth, which are the most common invader, there will be a webbing that appears similar to that of a spider. They will usually form a cocoon at the top of the wall at the ceiling junction. Pantry pests prefer to feed on cereals or other starchy foods, but can be found in many different food items. Without proper control, these pests will quickly infest other items in the kitchen that have never been opened, chewing through cardboard boxes and plastic bags.
The Solution
It is impossible to control pantry pests unless you have located and thrown out all infested items. They must be stopped at the larval stage! This requires a thorough search through all possible breeding locations, and often requires professional help as they can be reproducing in places you would never think of looking. The second step is control of the adult stage. In many cases they can be controlled without using any pesticides. We provide specially designed pheromone traps to draw in the adults, and thus end their life cycle. In some instances we may use a natural desiccant powder to finish off the adult population. With the experience and understanding of these insects life cycle and habits, we will have your pantry free of pests in no time!
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