PANTRY PEST CONTROL

    The first step in eliminating STORED PRODUCT PEST yourself is to first identify the type of PANTRY PEST you are having problems with.  Click on the image to see a larger picture of each pest.  Click on the name to learn more about the pest and how to control it with DellPest do it yourself pest control techniques.

 PROFESSIONAL DO IT YOURSELF CONTROL SOLUTIONS

  Indian Meal moths are probably the most common stored product pests we deal with. These pests are mostly found in grain type foods such as: cereal, pet foods, seeds, candy, nuts, dried fruits, and virtually any other dried food stuffs around the home.

In the larva stage is when the homeowner finds them the biggest pest. The mature larva is about one half inch long, and a dirty white color with sometime a greenish or pinkish tint. They are found leaving extensive webbing matted over the surface of food products upon which it feeds. The adults fly around in zigzag patterns appearing as moths  and prefer to rest in poorly lighted areas.

__________________________________________________________________________________________

Red Flour Beetle is mainly found in southern states and is closely related to the Confused Flour Beetle   which is mainly found in the northern states. Although very similar in appearance the adults of the confused flour beetles do not fly and  the adults of the red flour beetle are strong fliers and appear mostly in farm-stored grain. They are considered scavengers. The larva is somewhat cylindrical in body shape and is yellowish-white in color with darker mandibles. It feeds on flour, cereal, peas, beans, dried fruits, spices and many other types of food.

Rice Weevils are considered to be internal feeders in nature and are known to be the most destructive pest of all stored grain pests. Both the adult and larvae feed on many types of grain. They are most common in the south and can affect grain in the fields and in storage. Rice weevils are mainly found in whole grain only. Signs of this pest would be exit holes on the kernels What makes them so destructive is that the female bores and deposits eggs into the kernel of grain and by the time the adult emerges from inside the whole lot is damaged. 

Drug Store Beetles are known to be external feeders and are closely related to the Cigarette Beetle. The larvae are 4mm long, grub-shaped and near white in color. It most commonly feeds on flour, cereals, red pepper, and in dog food. 

Cigarette Beetles mostly affect stored tobacco. It is not limited to other items such as books, rice, ginger, pepper, paprika, dried fish, and dried plants. This pest, like the Drug Store Beetle, is an external feeder. The larvae can cause great damage.

Saw-toothed Grain Beetles are considered scavengers that live in cereals, flour, dried fruits, macaroni, dried meats, chocolate, and other similar foods. These pests are very small and can easily get into food packages and multiply fast. They are similar to the merchant grain beetle but have some distinct differences. The larva is dirty white and each segment bears a yellowish plate on the top side. They are known to penetrate easily with its saw like projections into packaged food stuff.

Mediterranean Flour Moth is also a common pest belonging to the scavenger group. It infests flour, nuts, chocolate, beans, and dried fruits. It can be characterized by its pose when resting. The front of the body is raised, giving the wings a distinct downward slope with the tip of the abdomen protruding up between them. The larvae spin silken threads as they move about. These threads foster particles together in a dense knot. These larvae are usually found away from infestations in a crack or crevice some where. These are mostly pests of warehouses. They are similar to the chocolate moths.

The Yellow Mealworm is in the secondary pest group, meaning they are found feeding on deteriorating, damp and moldy materials. They are commonly found in northern states in basements, or at the soil level in homes. They are characterized as slow movers, and live mostly in the larvae stage.

We recommend in following the tips below.   Once these measures are in place and if the problem persists after a few days, we suggest you place traps as directed, such as the Allure Sex Pheromone traps.