Fall seems to bring more pest intruders than any other season, and some of the annoying pests that are entering our homes this fall are after our stored goods. Pantry pests are insects that infest stored food items such as grains, cereals, spices, dry pet food, pasta, and flour. With Thanksgiving just around the corner, no one wants pantry pests putting our Thanksgiving meals in jeopardy. Several types of moths and beetles fall into the category of pantry pests, including Indian meal moths, cigarette beetles, and drugstore beetles—but how are they getting inside?

While Indian meal moths and both kinds of beetles can get in through areas such as gaps around doors, torn screens, and open windows, it is much more likely that they were introduced to your home from a food item that you brought in with your groceries. Infested stored food products usually first become contaminated by these pests at the food processing facility from which they originated. Those infested products are then sent to stores, which place them on shelves for consumers to buy. Once you’ve purchased those items, each of these pantry pests can be introduced to your home.

Once inside your home, these pests will contaminate your stored food items with their eggs, larvae, and excrement —often furthering their infestation from the product they originally came on to several other items. While pantry pests do not carry any harmful diseases, sanitation becomes a concern when these pests contaminate food with eggs or larvae, which can be a rather unpleasant addition to your Thanksgiving dinner.

Often, it can be hard to determine if you have a pantry pest problem because the eggs and larvae of drugstore beetles, Indian meal moths, and cigarette beetles are incredibly small. This means that most people only realize they have a pantry pest problem after the infestation has become extensive and adult moths or beetles are seen crawling or flying around the kitchen.

Because pantry pests can be incredibly difficult to get rid of once you have them, it is always best to contact pest control as soon as you suspect there might be a problem. Schendel Pest Services has the tools and experience needed to rid your home of any pest invasion. With our Pest-Zero Guarantee, you can be sure your home will be pest free year-round. Contact us today to learn more about our year-round pest control services to protect your home from pantry pests.