WHERE DO THESE PESTS COME FROM?

In Washington State, most stored food pest problems in residences result when a consumer purchases contaminated food. After the product sits on the shelf for a while, these insects may spread to other food products in the kitchen or other parts of the house.

HOW DO I KNOW IF I HAVE A PROBLEM?

There are several types of food pests including beetles, moths and mites. The immature and adult stages of all these pests may look quite different. Often infested food has adults crawling on the surface when the container is open. You may also see tiny grub like larvae or small discarded “skins” from the larvae. Some food products may appear to have small webs on top of the product or a moth may fly out of the box.

When looking for pests, be careful not to shake the box or disturb the surface. Often live adults or discarded “skins” will be visible on the surface when you open the container. But sometimes even visual inspection of the food containers may not reveal the eggs or larvae of stored product pests. Adult beetles or moths may be 1/16” to 1/4”.

WHAT DO I DO IF I HAVE A PROBLEM?

The key to eliminating a stored product pest problem in your home is to identify where they are breeding. When searching for the source, check everything edible-- whether opened or unopened—including all grains, flours, pancake mixes, muffin mixes, cake mixes, and spices. Also check all cat and dog food (excluding unopened canned food) and bird food (seed, millet, etc.).

WHAT DO I DO WITH MY FOOD?

Isolate items that were on the shelf at the time of infestation, but appear to be free of insects. Store these foods in airtight glass or molded plastic containers, away from the contaminated cabinet. Later, if items stored in airtight containers show signs of infestation, the contents can be discarded without risk of re-infesting other foods. Do not restock unprotected new food until your home is free of pests.

WHAT IF THE PROBLEM PERSISTS?

In mild infestation, there are several household products available for homeowners to use in controlling these pests. But the primary control is to eliminate the infested food.

If the problem seems too big to handle, give us a call. We’ll help you identify and eradicate the problem. If necessary, we can apply safe, effective treatments for heavier infestations.

website by flashpoint design