Pantry Bug Control with Nextgen Pest Solutions

Few moments are more unpleasant than opening a box of pasta, a bag of flour, or a carton of cereal to discover there are small bugs crawling around inside. Seeing even a few of the beetles, moths, or worm-like pests means you have to throw away the entire box of food and, if the pests have spread, surrounding foodstuffs may have to go as well. Pantry bugs are frustrating and unappealing, and constantly throwing out contaminated food becomes costly.

Nextgen Pest Solutions is a full service pest control company with several decades of experience in fighting pantry bugs and many other types of pests. Our approach brings together the latest in pest control technology with careful, professional service and affordable rates. Our live agents are available 24 hours a day. Call us at (470) 336-4315 so we can help you safely eliminate pantry bugs in your home or business.

What Are Pantry Bugs?

Rather than a single species, pantry bugs refers to the moths and beetles that can be found in pantries. They feed on grains, nuts, cereals, dried fruits, and packaged foods commonly stored in pantries, although they can be found anywhere there is a food source for them. The different panty pests include:

• Angoumois Grain Moths – The larvae of these moths develop entirely inside of a grain kernel, such as corn or wheat. They only emerge as adult moths, measuring ⅛ inch long with a yellow coloring, and are very hard to detect. The larvae have an unappealing scent that can make food inedible even if you don’t see the pest itself.
  
  
• Sawtooth Grain Beetles – Brownish or red in color, these flat beetles measure 1/10 inch long. They usually get into packaged foods in a warehouse or grocery store. They can move quickly between different food containers, infesting an entire pantry once introduced to a home.
  
  
• Indian Meal Moth – One of the most common grain pests, the larvae of these moths resemble small yellow worms with a brown head and can be found in stored foods. The adult moths are about ½ inch long with wings that are reddish-brown on the outer third and since they do not feed, can be found flying throughout the house. Seeing these moths indicates an infestation.
  
  
• Mediterranean Meal Moth – Larvae for this meal moth measure up to ½ inch and are light pink with a dark head. The adult moths are light grey and about ¾ inch long. A moth will lay eggs in the flower or grain and when hatched, the larvae leave silken threads as they eat which cause the grain to clump together.
  
  
• Granary Weevil – The larvae of weevils grow inside of a grain kernel like rice, corn, or wheat. Once grown, the adult beetle eats its way out of the kernel to continue infesting the grain and lay its own eggs. Granary weevils are dark brown and about ⅛ inch long. Weevils cause the most agricultural damage annually in terms of cost, but can also come into homes and businesses.
  
  
• Cigarette Beetle – These beetles are round in shape, light brown, and about 1/10 inch long. They get their name from feeding on stored tobacco, but they will also eat grains, cereal, coffee beans, spices, and pet food.
  
  
• Mealworms – Although used in both pet food and, in some cultures, human food, many consider mealworms a pest as they contaminate grains and stored foods. These larvae are yellow and about 1/10 inch long.
  
  
• Drugstore Beetle – This oval shaped beetle is brown and about 1/10 inch long. They can move through aluminum foil, live for weeks without food, and hide well. As their name suggests, there are also reports of drugstore beetles infesting and consuming medications.

Most pantry pests are small and hard to notice at first. The clearest sign of an infestation is moths or beetles near food products. The light attracts them, prompting them to leave the food source for a period of time. It is also possible to see them directly in the contaminated food, often when using the product.

None of these pests poses a significant danger to people as they do not bite or spread disease. However, their droppings, discarded skins, and deceased insects do contaminate the food they infest. Food that has any pantry bugs should be thrown away and not consumed. If pantry bugs spread throughout a kitchen, moving between different food products, it can necessitate discarding a significant amount of food.

How Do You Get Pantry Pests?

Pantry pests often come into a home in an infected product. They can be picked up as the food item sits in the processing plant, in a warehouse waiting for shipping, or in the grocery store. Once in your pantry, the pests continue to feed and may move to infest other food.
It is also possible for pantry bugs to come into a home from outside through open windows and doors. They are drawn to warm areas and food sources. Kitchens with exposed food, crumbs, or residue on cooking surfaces can attract beetles and moths.

There are additional risk factors for pantry bugs that can be easily resolved by the homeowner. Any food with damaged packaging should be promptly discarded. Also, food should be stored in containers that are pest-proof whenever possible, such as glass and metal with sealing lids. The cardboard and paper containers that many grains come in are easy for bugs to get through.

Finally, pantry bugs will often collect in dry foods that are older, so not keeping out of date products in your pantry can help prevent pests.

Pantry Bug Inspection, Treatment, and Control

Discarding contaminated food is the first step in handling pantry bugs. But if the infestation has spread too far or you can’t identify where the pests are coming from, a professional exterminator can eliminate the pests. Homeowners should not use over-the-counter insecticides as they risk contaminating food with dangerous chemicals.

At Nextgen Pest Solutions, we treat pantry bugs by first identifying the type of pest and the source. From there we can develop a treatment plan to effectively remove any pantry bugs. We use the latest in scientific, family safe pesticides when needed to kill bugs and their eggs.
Since our exterminators also know what attracts pantry bugs and where they like to hide, we can note potential problem points and make recommendations for keeping your home free of pantry bugs in the future.

Contact Nextgen Pest Solutions for Pantry Bug Control

With decades of experience in pest control, we understand that any infestation is a headache for our customers. We aim to take hassle out of pest control with friendly service and treatment methods that ensure your home is free of pests. We provide:

• Fast, dependable service provided by a professional team.
• Advanced, science-backed pest control technology that is always evolving.
• Guaranteed service and return visits until pests are eliminated.

Nextgen Pest Solutions is community focused, so we are committed to both our customers and our team. Our customers are our neighbors and we treat their homes with the personalized attention they deserve. For our team, we have made it our mission to employ and train local military veterans, providing jobs to those who have dedicated themselves to our country.

While we can effectively remove any species of pantry bug, that is only one of our services. Whether you are a homeowner or business owner, we also offer one time extermination and ongoing pest prevention services for all common pests and wildlife. Let us be a partner in your pest control needs. Give us a call today to get started.