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Your kitchen can be riddled with so many pesky intruders that you might be overwhelmed by. How to get rid of ants, Keeps mice awayor Prevent mold mitesIf you've ever opened a box of cereal, a bag of flour, or taken your dog's food out of a bag and noticed silky webs or crawling bugs inside, you may have encountered a particularly nasty pest: the pantry moss, also known as the Indian meal moss.
Unfortunately, pantry moths are an unwelcome guest that you may unknowingly bring home from the grocery store. According to the pest control experts we consulted, pantry moths lay their eggs in food (yes, that's terrifying to think about) and are very difficult to get rid of once an infestation occurs.
“Pantry moths lay hundreds of eggs at a time and quickly reproduce, taking over the area they invade.” Leave your pest control to us “The larvae will chew through cardboard and plastic storage and can quickly take over your pantry,” explains the Florida Pest Management Association executive director.
Although rice weevil moths do not carry any disease, finding their nests in dry goods and laying hundreds of eggs in your food is unappetizing to say the least. Also, spotting them can mean having to throw out lots of expensive groceries.
Read on as our pest control experts tell you everything you need to know about pantry moths, from the signs of a pantry moth infestation to how to get rid of them once and for all. Here's what you need to know about pantry moths, a common kitchen pest.
What are Pantry Moths?
Pantry moss, or Indian meal moss, are tiny insects with rusty brown or almost bronze-colored wings. “There are many different species of pantry moss, but most look like big chunks of brown rice with dusty wings,” says Selbach. Their larvae typically look like tiny cream-colored bugs with yellow-green or pink markings and dark brown heads. Colorado State University Extension.
These winged insects love to lay their eggs in pantry items like flour, grains, cereals, dried fruit and pasta, giving their newly hatched larvae a ready source of food, says entomologist and American Pests “That means you may find adult moths or larvae inside food packaging or in cupboards and drawers, depending on what stage of the life cycle they're in,” explains James Aguardi, technical and training manager for the Washington, D.C., facility. Pantry moth larvae are most often found in infested foods, he says. Viking Pest ControlHowever, the researchers say, moths may also crawl around cabinets and on surfaces as they search for a place to pupate (or cocoon) and emerge as adults.
Signs of a Pantry Moth Infestation
The most obvious sign of a pantry moth problem is seeing adult moths flying around your pantry or kitchen, says Scott Hodges, vice president of professional development and technical services at Arrow Exterminators. You may also find cocoons in the corners of your pantry or cabinets, or inside food bags.
“During their larval stage, these pests often climb walls in preparation for their pupal stage, leaving behind tiny, lint-ball-like cocoons,” Hodges said. “At first, these cocoons may be hard to see, but as they grow in numbers, they become more noticeable.”
Holes in boxes, plastic bags, or other food storage containers are a warning sign that you may have pantry moths, Selbach says.
Can pantry moths cause disease?
While rice weevil moths don't bite or cause disease, they can get into your food, and if that happens, experts say it's best to throw it away. Not only do rice weevil moths get into your food, they spin loads of silk and collect egg shells, post-molt skins, and excrement, Keefer said.
“One bag of contaminated flour may not be a big deal, but once the Indian rice moth gets into your pantry, it will lay eggs in any food it has access to,” Keefer says.
How do rice weevils get into the house?
Pantry moths can technically get in through openings like doors and windows, but that's rare, Selbach said. Instead, the larvae feed on grains and other foods in the pantry, so the food itself is the most common entry point, Selbach said.
Some believe bulk goods are most vulnerable to pantry moths, but Selbach said it's hard to say for sure because “it only takes one loophole in quality control in the supply chain for pantry moths to infest.”
“A good rule of thumb is the thicker and sturdier the packaging, the better,” he says.
Also, be aware that bird food bags are typically made from thin plastic or cardboard, and the packaging makes them susceptible to pantry pests.
“If they can smell the outside of the bag, there's a good chance the pests will also smell it and investigate,” Selbach says.
How to Prevent Pantry Moths
It's important to know what's in your pantry, and in addition to these simple strategies, experts recommend checking and inspecting your dry goods.
Invest in airtight containers
It's easy to dismiss transferring food storage staples like grains, nuts, pasta, and flour into airtight containers as something only the most organized people do. But aside from looking good and extending the shelf life of your groceries, sealing dry goods in containers is an excellent defense against food storage moth infestations.
Watch out for moth marks
Using sturdy food storage containers with airtight lids forces dry goods to be removed from their factory packaging, giving them the opportunity to carefully inspect them for signs of contamination, Selbach says.
Things to look out for, he says, include feathers, eggs and droppings. Droppings are sawdust-like insect waste that's a common by-product of insects like termites, black ants and pantry moths.
Check container before refilling
If you use food storage containers, be especially careful when adding new foods. “It's a good idea to keep new foods separate until you're sure they don't have pantry moth larvae,” advises Selbach. “If you don't, you risk contaminating the entire container.”
Avoid flimsy packaging
Don't store food in plastic bags or cardboard boxes, as insects may nibble at them. University of Maryland ExtensionAlso, avoid leaving grains in cupboards or food storage areas, Agardi says.
Use the freezer
Pests breed faster in moisture, so storing foods like nuts and flour in the freezer can help keep pests at bay, according to the University of Maryland Extension.
Clean up the breadcrumbs
Hard-to-reach areas where food debris can accumulate, such as under the stove, should be cleaned frequently. If your dog or cat is a messy eater, make sure you spot any food particles that get strewn around and dispose of them immediately.
How to get rid of pantry moths
Prevention is the best way to get rid of pantry moths. But if you do have an infestation, you'll need to take action quickly. Don't resort to pesticides, though. Experts recommend not spraying pesticides in food storage areas for safety reasons.
Eliminate food sources
Discard any food that has been opened outside of a sealed container or shows signs of moths, says Rocky Beninato. Quality, affordable pest controlis based in Toronto and the surrounding areas. Be sure to dispose of immediately in an outdoor trash can and do not leave affected items in an indoor trash can.
Thoroughly clean out your pantry
Empty the entire pantry and use a vacuum attachment to remove dust and cobwebs. Then, clean the pantry using a disinfectant cleaner, bleach solution, or soap and hot water. Be sure to clean all the nooks and crannies where eggs or caterpillars may be hiding, says Beninato.
Consider hiring a professional
If your infestation is severe, you may need to hire a pest control professional, which can cost around $600. Beninato recommends holding off on purchasing new dry goods and groceries until you're sure the pests are gone.
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