Have you ever opened your cupboards to look for something to eat? You skim over the usual options: crackers, chips, bread, ants, cookies — wait, were those ants? Turns out insects love the snacks in your kitchen just as much as you do. Luckily, the pest control Des Moines experts at Pro Staff are here to offer their guide to the most common pantry pests.

Ants

These pesky critters are among the most common kitchen nuisances. They can infest a pantry quickly due to the scent trails they leave to help other ants find the food stashes they discover. To avoid being ant-agonized by these pests, make sure your home is properly sealed and that food is stored in airtight containers.

Beetles

There are a few types of beetles that can invade pantries and cupboards, and each is attracted by a different food source:

• Drugstore beetles: Also called biscuit beetles, these small brown insects fly and can sometimes be found around windows. They commonly infest dried plant-based products, such as spices, macaroni, or paper products.
• Flour beetles: Like their name suggests, these reddish-brown beetles are attracted to flour and other dried foods, like dried fruit or nuts.
• Sawtoothed Grain Beetles: This type of beetle is recognizable by the saw-like teeth on each side of its body. They infest a variety of food items, including grains, cereals, and even dried meat.

The best way to prevent beetle infestations is to store dried food products in sealed glass or plastic containers. For more tips on keeping pests out of your kitchen, check out our blog.

Meal Moths

Meal moths commonly infest the same food sources as beetles: grains, dried fruits, cereals, and other processed food products. The adult moths are identifiable by their reddish-brown forewings. Meal moths will often lay eggs in the infested food source, and when the eggs hatch, the larvae will spread to other food sources in the same location. Meal moth larvae are tiny enough to burrow through mesh and slide into tiny gaps in bags, so again, sealing your food in airtight containers is crucial to prevent an infestation.

If pests have invaded your pantry, turn to the professionals in pest control Des Moines. Contact Pro Staff today at 515-279-7378 to get a quote for pest removal services.