Pantry pests contaminate more food than they eat, and most people find the contaminated products unfit for consumption. Millions of dollars a year are lost because of pests getting into our food supplies. It’s not just the food that we eat many pests are found in our pets food as well.
Common Types of Pantry Pests
Indian meal moth – Indian meal moth larva are commonly found in dog and cat food and bird seed that you bring home from the pet store. The adult IMM ½” in length gray with bronze wing tips. Commonly found flying in homes. The damage that they create is from its larvae. The adult female is capable of laying 200 – 400 eggs that are laid near a suitable food source. Newly hatched larvae are very small and can penetrate loosely sealed packaging. After feeding they move away from their food source to pupate. From egg to adult takes about 40 – 55 days.
Flour beetle – Two of the most common are the Confused flour beetle and the Red flour beetle. Adult beetles are reddish brown and are very small about 1/8”. Both species have wings but rarely fly. Over a period of 5 – 8 months 300 – 500 eggs can be laid. Both adults and immatures feed on flour.
Warehouse beetle – The Warehouse beetle is the most destructive pest of stored grain products. Often confused with the Carpet beetle because their larval stage look very similar. The Larvae are just under ¼” have long sharp hairs which are irritating to some sensitive people. The adult is brownish in color and about 1/16”. An adult female beetle can lay more than 100 eggs at a time, which will hatch into larvae within seven to 35 days.
If you are having a pantry pest problem in Reno and the surrounding areas, call us today at 775-332-0604