Pantry Pests

Pantry pests are small insects also referred to as product pests. They feed on any dry goods item in your kitchen pantry such as:

• Flour
• Cereal
• Macaroni
• Pasta
• Baking mixes
• Spices
• Pet food
• Any grain-based item

In New Jersey, we have a variety of pantry pests to contend with. There are Indian meal moths, Saw-toothed grain beetles, and flour beetles. Indian meal moths are the most common product pest and are approximately ⅜ of an inch in length. These pests will leave larvae that look like small, cream-colored worms in your food, contaminating the product.

Pantry pest infestations are generally the result of the pests being introduced into your home through infested items. If you buy contaminated food and bring it into your home you can quickly become infested. Unfortunately, this can happen to anyone and is difficult to trace. Once you bring the pests into your home, it is difficult to remove them on your own.

Aside from the distaste of finding bugs in your food, pantry pests are an actual health concern. They are unsafe and unsanitary to have in your home. Serious illness can be caused by ingesting food they have contaminated. And many people suffer from skin allergies triggered by these pesky invaders.