Finding any bug in your pantry can be worrisome. After all, you want to protect your food stores and reduce the risk of having to throw all of your food away. While many pests can invade your pantry and cupboards, one of the most common in the Houston area is the pantry pest beetle.
Your Houston pest control team wants to help you identify and deal with these unwanted insects so you can keep your home and kitchen clean and safe. Here's what you should know to identify pantry pests and what you need to do to get rid of them.
Identifying A Pantry Pest Infestation
When you think of common pantry pests, you likely think of ants. While these insects are common, the pantry pest beetle is starting to become a major threat to kitchens in the Houston area.
Here's how to determine if you have a pantry pest problem:
- Pantry pest beetles grow no more than 1/8 of an inch in length. They are much smaller than other beetles that you may see in your yard but much larger than common ants.
- Adult pantry pests are brown or black, and their larvae are light-colored.
- Pantry pests love to infest your food products and deposit eggs. If you find them in open food containers and inside cupboards rather than on the floor or near your plants, you're likely dealing with a pantry pest infestation.
If you're not sure which type of pest you have in your home, a professional pantry pest control specialist will be able to identify them for you.
Pantry Pests Are More Problematic Than Dangerous
Luckily, pantry pests are not likely to cause physical harm to humans or pets. Instead, they simply damage your food and force you to throw away products you'd otherwise keep.
When you have this type of pest in your home, it's common to find pantry pest larvae in or around food, forcing you to throw your food away. But that's not the only problem these pests can pose. Here are a few more:
- Some beetles can make your food smell off or bad after crawling around in it.
- The beetles may shed hair that can cause irritation to your mouth and throat. These hairs may also cause stomach upset if ingested.
- Pantry pest beetles can spread microbes through your food. These microbes produce mycotoxins which are known carcinogens and may increase your risk of cancer.
These are a few of the most common risks you'll possibly incur with a pantry pest infestation. If you're worried about pantry pests, your best option is to schedule a home inspection with a professional pest control specialist.
How Pantry Pests Find Their Way Into Stored Foods
Pantry pests have to enter your home somehow and tend to do so through small cracks and gaps around your home's exterior. Once inside, they'll start looking for an easy food source. If you have poorly sealed food containers, the beetles will be able to get inside with ease. They may also gravitate to your trash can or any strong-smelling food residue in your kitchen.
The Trick To Getting Rid Of A Pantry Pest Infestation
The best way to get rid of an active infestation isn't to set up a pantry pest trap. It's working with an experienced home pest control company like All-Safe Pest & Termite. Our professional team has access to high-quality pantry pest control products and will help you eliminate these pesky insects. Contact us today to schedule an appointment.