Biology and Control of Pantry Pests

Pantry Pests is a catch-all term for the wide variety of insects that directly infest stored foods. These are insects who are specially adapted to live in and feed upon stored food products. In practice, this includes certain species of beetles, weevils, and moths; but by convention, it excludes cockroaches, ants, and rodents.

 

General Considerations in the Control of Pantry Pests

Once upon a time, the great bulk of foods that were susceptible to attack by pantry pests were fumigated prior to shipment. Fumigation is a process by which pesticides that are true vapors at standard atmospheric temperature and pressure are applied directly to stored food products. The vapors absorb into the food, killing all stages of pests that might be lurking therein. Then after the requisite time for effective control, the food is aerated, and the vapors desorb from the foods, usually leaving little or no residue.

Changing public opinions about pesticide use, along with concerns regarding some fumigants' effects upon the ozone layer, have led to reduced use of fumigation as a pre-emptive control measure. As a result, more pest-infested foods now make it to market. The last few years have shown a marked increase in the number of stored product pest complaints by ordinary people, who bring these infested foods home with them from the supermarket.

Once established in a home, pantry pests can be very difficult to control.

 

Prevention of Pantry Pests

It is impossible to completely prevent the introduction of stored-product pests into your home, but you can significantly reduce the chances by observing the following precautions:

 

• Purchase foods manufactured by reputable companies, and shop at clean, reputable markets. They are more likely to use advanced monitoring and control measure and to observe HACCP (Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point) protocols to reduce the risk of food-borne illnesses and pest infestation.

• Store foods that are susceptible to infestation (such as all grain and flour products and foods made from them, dried fruits, herbs, and chocolates) in separate, airtight containers. Newly purchased foods can be placed, box and all, in heavy-duty zipper-type storage bags. This serves two purposes: Firstly, it prevents insects that may have arrived in products from spreading to other foods; and secondly, the see-through bags enable the product to be later inspected for pests, and discarded -- bag and all -- if they are found.

• Since pantry pests can also infest products that we don't usually think of as foods (such as potpourri or dried flowers), these can also introduce pests into a home. Freezing these products for four or five days will usually kill all stages of pests that may be infesting them.

 

Control of Pantry Pests

The control of pantry pests varies according to the exact specie, but there are some similarities. Effective control of pantry pests involves:

 

• Identifying and discarding infested foods, and sealing remaining foods in zipper-type plastic bags or other airtight containers.

• Thoroughly cleaning the pantry and associated areas to remove adult insects that may be harboring there, as well as eggs or pupae that may have been deposited or attached to surfaces or in cracks and crevices.

• In many cases, the placement of specie-specific sex pheromone traps may help break the back of the infestation by trapping adults insects.

• Sometimes, chemical treatment with insecticides and/or insect growth regulators is necessary to control remaining insects that cannot be removed by non-chemical means.

 

Choosing an Exterminator

When chemical treatment is necessary, it's important to choose a pest control company with the knowledge and experience to do the job right. Economy Pest Control is an independent, family owned and operated, full-service pest control company serving the Greater Boston area. Presently in our third decade of local ownership, our goal is simple: We want to provide the highest quality professional pest control services, at the fairest possible price. For more information about how we can help you with pantry pests or any other pest problem, please contact us.