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Pantry Pests

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Pantry pests are commonly found across the United States, and they’re particularly bad in Chicago. These pests are often referred to as stored product pests because they consume the processed foods and dried foods stored in homes. They’ll consume many food products, including flour, dry pet food, cornstarch, crackers, bread, dried nuts, spices, powdered milk, and more. In our area, the most common pantry pests include Indian meal moths, cigarette beetles, and saw-toothed grain beetles. Pantry pests hide and live in the food products they consume.

As a result, they can breed around the clock. They never have to stop. They can create a few generations every year. Remember that pantry pest infestations say nothing about your housekeeping behaviors.

The Common Pantry Pests In Chicago

You’ll encounter several pantry pest species, including Indian meal moths and saw-toothed grain beetles.

Indian Meal Moths

These moths are small with multiple colors. For instance, they are reddish-brown, coppery, and gray. They’re not going to damage your food products. Instead, it is the Indian meal moth larvae that damage your food. The Indian meal moth larvae will consume a variety of dried foods found in your home. Unfortunately, these pests are incredibly difficult to remove from dwellings. The moths will build cocoons throughout your home.

Saw-Toothed Grain Beetles

You’ll also encounter saw-toothed grain beetles. They’re a tenth of an inch and feed on many products. They have six tooth projections on both sides of their thorax. They use these tooth projections to feed on candy, flour, dried fruit, cereal, and other food products. Adults and larvae will consume these products. Although it sounds odd, saw-toothed grain beetles will consume birdseed and rodent bait too.

Cigarette Beetles

Cigarette beetles love consuming tobacco products, including cigarettes and cigars. They’ll also consume loose tobacco. These pests are light brown and only an eighth of an inch. Cigarette beetles have humped backs and body hairs so they have a fuzzy look. Although they primarily eat tobacco products, they’ll also consume spices, cereal, candy, and nuts.

Reasons For Pantry Pests

If you’ve found pantry pests in your home, remember it is nothing you did. In all likelihood, you purchased food products that contained pantry pests. Then, you brought them home with you. They will enter from outside but it isn’t common. An infestation can begin with a few pantry pests before quickly worsening. Once they’ve climbed into your food products, they’ll be able to thrive. They breed constantly because they live in their food sources.

Infestation Signs

How can you identify pantry pests in your home? Unfortunately, it won’t be easy to do so. These pests are small and they blend in with the foods they eat. Therefore, spotting them is going to be very difficult. You may not realize you have a problem until you find small moths or beetles around your food packages.

Can Pantry Pests Make You Sick?

You’re likely concerned that the pantry pests in your home are going to cause you to get seriously ill. Is this something that worries you? Ultimately, pantry pests are not physically dangerous. They don’t bite, inject venom, or spread illnesses. There is a risk that you’re going to consume pantry pests and their eggs. It might happen. Even if it does, you won’t need to worry about getting sick. Most pantry pests do not carry dangerous parasites or pathogens. Therefore, the risks are slim. The thing you’ll have to worry about is these pests destroying your food products. Replacing the food regularly will be very expensive.

Avoiding Invasions Of Pantry Pests

Use the advice below to keep pantry pests out of your dwelling.

  • Always check your food packages before bringing them into your home.
  • Keep your food products stored in durable containers with lids. Do not use weak materials such as paper or cardboard because the larvae will chew through them.
  • Schedule to clean your pantry at least twice a week. Make sure that you get rid of food crumbs in your pantry.
  • Before using cold food containers again, clean them thoroughly. Never mix your new food with old food.
  • Test the food to find out if it is infested. Place it in a plastic bag and wait for a month or so. If you find pests in the past, it is best to throw the food away.

Wiping Out Pantry Pests

Don’t delay fixing this problem because it is only going to worsen. Unfortunately, it won’t be easy to solve this problem. DIY methods can help but you need skills and experience to use them carefully. Before you can resolve the problem, you have to know what you’re dealing with. Therefore, you need to know where they’re at and what you’re dealing with. If you want to fix the problem on your own, it is best to start with the steps below.

  • Throw out any food products that are infested with pantry pests. Toss them in a plastic bag before getting rid of them.
  • Properly clean your pantry. Remove all items from your pantry shelves. Grab your vacuum and use it to get rid of pantry pests and eggs. Place the vacuum’s contents into a plastic bag. Then, you can throw the bag out. Doing this will eliminate the risk of a future infestation.
  • Don’t forget to wash your walls and pantry shelves.

Although DIY methods can help, many of them are not great for you. Be careful when using over-the-counter products because some of them will expose you to many health hazards. The best way to minimize the risks and protect yourself is by using our services.

When Can You Begin?

Contact our Chicago office right now. We’ll get back to you within 24 to 48 hours so you can schedule an appointment.

EPA-Registered & Safe

We always provide our clients with protection. We use EPA-registered products because they’re safe. We wouldn’t expose our clients to health hazards. We sincerely care about protecting our clients so we’re going to administer the safest products. The Environmental Protection Agency carefully studied these products to guarantee that they’re safe around people, plants, and pets. We can use these products without worrying about any risks.

Preventing Future Pantry Pest Invasions

Before bringing food products into your home, be sure to carefully check your packages. Don’t bring them inside if the packages contain pests. Finally, make sure all of your food products are stored in durable containers.

If you have any other pest control issues please check out other services.

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Joliet, Lake Zurich, Portage, Hobart, Vernon Hills, Long Grove, Romeoville, Lake Station, Lockport, Lake Forest, Mokena, Palatine, Griffith, Buffalo Grove, Lincolnshire, Bolingbrook, Fort Sheridan, Wheaton, Schaumburg, Roselle, Highland, Highwood, Rolling Meadows, Lisle, Bloomingdale, Flossmoor, Munster, Deerfield, Woodridge, Glendale Heights, Glenwood, Wheeling, Gary, Tinley Park, Lemont, Highland Park, Medinah, Country Club Hills, Homewood, Arlington Heights, Glen Ellyn, Lansing, Prospect Heights, Thornton, Hazel Crest, Itasca, Downers Grove, Elk Grove Village, Orland Park, Darien, Mount Prospect, Northbrook, Oak Forest, Lombard, South Holland, Addison, Calumet City, Westmont, Harvey, East Chicago, Wood Dale, Glencoe, Palos Park, Clarendon Hills, Willowbrook, Midlothian, Villa Park, Posen, Dolton, Techny, Oak Brook, Palos Heights, Bensenville, Robbins, Glenview Nas, Glenview, Winnetka, Hinsdale, Palos Hills, Des Plaines, Willow Springs, Elmhurst, Riverdale, Blue Island, Worth, Whiting, Alsip, Kenilworth, Hickory Hills, Western Springs, Golf, Chicago Ridge, Berkeley, Wilmette, Niles, Park Ridge, La Grange, Justice, Hillside, Morton Grove, Schiller Park, Westchester, Bridgeview, Oak Lawn, Franklin Park, Stone Park, La Grange Park, Bellwood, Skokie, Melrose Park, Brookfield, Burbank, Evergreen Park, Broadview, Hometown, Summit Argo, River Grove, Harwood Heights, Bedford Park, Maywood, Lyons, Hines, Evanston, Riverside, Lincolnwood, River Forest, Elmwood Park, Forest Park, Berwyn, Oak Park, Cicero, Amf Ohare.

Zip Code We Service

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Pantry Pests