There are many different types of insects, which are capable of infesting food and other organic products stored in the kitchen. Most pantry pests are either moths, like the Flour Moth, or beetles such as the Grain Beetle. Infested products may include grains, herbs, dried flowers, birdseed, pet food or dried dairy products. Pantry pests eat and contaminate the product rendering them unfit for human consumption. Often they leave the contaminated food and crawl or fly around the house.
Common Pantry Pests
Flour and Grain Beetles is a category, which includes small reddish brown beetles in and around stored grain products. The most common are Saw Toothed Grain Beetle, Red Flour Beetle and Confused Flour Beetle. They are small insects 1/10 inch to 1/7 inch long. They feed mostly on grains, cereals, nuts, seeds, baking powders, yeasts, starchy materials, beans and peas. They are usually brought into the house in groceries and rapidly penetrate foodstuff, which appeal to them.
Weevils are members of the beetle family and are characterized by their head elongated into a snout. Two of the many species include the Rice Weevil and Granary Weevil, which are commonly found in the pantry. The Granary Weevil is 3/16 inch long and chestnut brown to black. The Rice Weevil is 1/8 inch long and reddish brown to black with four light red to yellow spots on its wing covers.
Mealworms is a term applied to larvae of several species of beetles. The worms are generally associated with grain products stored in damp places like basements. The Yellow Mealworm is one of the largest of the Pantry Pest beetles, usually over ½ inch long with a polished brown to black exterior. The full-grown larvae are about an inch long and yellowish to brown in color.
Flour Moths are probably one of the most commonly found Pantry Pests. Damage to food products is done by the larvae which can reach a length of ½ inch. Adult moths can be as large as ¾ inch and be seen flying around the infested area.
Treatment
Use Pro ExterminatorTM Residual Crawling Insect Killer to eliminate the annoyance of Beetles, Weevils, Moths, Mealworms and other insects invading your home. Pro ExterminatorTM Residual Insect Killer is specifically formulated to kill Pantry Pests on contact and keep them from coming back for up to 4 weeks.
Do
Treat exposed stages. Remove all foodstuffs, utensils, and shelf paper from the area to be treated. Discard any shelf paper and infested foodstuffs. Apply spray to shelves and cracks and crevices behind and under cupboard and cabinets. Allow spray to dry prior to replacement of shelf paper, food and utensils.
Avoid breathing of the spray mist and provide adequate ventilation of area being treated
Keep Out Of Reach Of Children
Read "Directions for Use" and "Precautionary Statements" on the container before using!
Tips for Controlling Pantry Pests
Find the source of the infestation and dispose of in a sealed heavy plastic bag with your regular trash. Be sure to check packages, which are seldom used, especially cereals, grain products, nuts, dry pet food, birdseed, raisins and flour.
Store all potentially susceptible foods in tightly closed glass, plastic or metal containers.
Consider heating or freezing any susceptible foods you have had 60 days or longer. Pantry Pests can be killed by heating foods in a dry oven to 140° F throughout for at least one hour or freezing the food item below 0° throughout for four days. All foodstuffs can then be safely used after removing Pantry Pests by sifting or by hand.
Clean all food spills in the pantry paying special attention to corners, cracks and crevices.
Make sure the pantry stays dry and free of moisture.
