Pantry Pests

Serving Northeast & Central PA | Lehigh Valley | Pocono Mountains

Common Pantry Pests 

While small rodents are pests that can invade your cabinets and eat your food, pantry pests refer to invasive insects that get into a variety of food. Pantry pests like cereal, flour, chocolate, and dried fruits or herbs. Here are some of the most common pantry pests you’re likely to encounter in your home.

Weevils

Rice, maize and granary weevils are common pantry pests in Pennsylvania and surrounding states. Rice weevils prefer whole grains, rice, corn and beans. They are between 2 and 3 mm in size. 

Maize weevils are slightly larger, between 3 and 3.5 mm, and invade similar types of dry goods. Granary weevils are the largest and measure between 3 and 4mm.

Beetles

Cigarette beetles are between 2 and 3 mm in size and prefer rice, raisins, seeds and spices. Drugstore beetles are typically 2.5 mm and are attracted to dry pet food, flour and cereals. 

Confused flour and red flour beetles are 4.5 to 5 mm and like flour, cereal and meal. Sawtoothed grain and merchant grain beetles are usually 2.5 mm in size. They usually like pasta, flour, cracked seeds and nuts.

Indian Meal Moths

Indian meal moths are the largest of the pantry pests with adults measuring at about 9mm. Meal moths will invade a variety of foods from dry pet food and grain to powdered milk and candy.

Despite their differences, pantry pests are often challenging to identify without the help of a professional. Although pantry pests are inconvenient and frustrating to deal with, they do not cause harm to your family or damage your home. It is essential to handle an infestation as soon as you notice pantry pests or other stages like larva or pupa. 

Handling a Pantry Pest Infestation

Even if you keep your cabinets clean and store all of your food in airtight containers, pantry pests may still enter your home from foods you bring home from the grocery store. It can be nearly impossible to see pantry pest eggs in your dry goods. If you see beetles or weevils in or around food, it’s important to get rid of the food immediately.

There are a variety of pantry pest control products on the market and while some are effective, the results are usually temporary. Some only work on specific pests, so if you’ve improperly identified your pantry pest, you won’t be successful in controlling them.

At Seitz Bros., we know what signs to look for and which type of pantry pest is invading your cabinets. We use effective elimination and prevention methods that are safe for your family and will not affect the safety of your food.

Rather than trying to treat your pest problem and then calling us for help, we recommend calling us as soon as you notice signs of a pest.