Stored Product Pest Identification In Coastal Carolina
Pests like moths and beetles that tend to gather around food stored in kitchen and pantry areas are stored product pests. These pests are capable of ruining any day in the kitchen. No one wants to open a bag of cereal or flour and see it contaminated by pantry pest larvae, their saliva, and excrement! Stored product pests are a concern inside homes, restaurants, food processing facilities, and anywhere else food is processed or stored.
Are Stored Product Pests Dangerous?
Any stored product pest can invade and contaminate dry goods, but it is typically the larval stage that causes most of the damage. Adults females lay their eggs inside whole or processed grains. After hatching, the larvae begin feeding on and contaminating stored food.
Why Do I Have A Stored Product Pest Problem?
Most of the time, stored product pests get into homes inside dry goods purchased from the store that already have their eggs or larvae inside. A stored product pest infestation usually originates at food processing or storage facilities.
Adults also can find their way into homes on their own. Outdoor lighting attracts adult stored product pests which then find their way inside through spaces around windows and doors or through open windows and doors. After moving inside, they search for suitable spots to lay their eggs — usually in dry goods that are not sealed properly in the pantry.
Where Will I Find Stored Product Pests In My Home?
Adults stored product pests usually live outside. Stored product pest larvae live on whatever food source they find themselves. Flour, cereals, cornmeal, dried pasta, crackers, chocolate, dried milk, dried fruits, dried spices, dry pet food, and cake mixes are all places you may find stored product pest larvae. Areas of a home that are most likely to have problems with these pests include kitchens, pantries, closets, and basements.
How Do I Get Rid Of Stored Product Pests?
Eliminate stored product pests from your home or business with the help of the professionals at Bug-N-A-Rug Exterminators. Trying to tackle pest problems on your own is difficult, time-consuming, and ineffective.
For over two decades, Bug-N-A-Rug Exterminators has solved pest problems for home and business owners throughout Pender, Brunswick, and New Hanover counties in North Carolina. Our qualified and dedicated staff solves local pest problems using the latest products, techniques, and pest control services. To start maintaining a stored product pest-free home or business, reach out to Bug-N-A-Rug Exterminators today!
How Can I Prevent Stored Product Pests In The Future?
Keep stored product pests out of your Wilmington, NC home with the help of Bug-N-A-Rug Exterminators and the following stored product pest prevention tips.
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Do not buy food from the store with rips or tears in their packaging.
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Avoid buying dry goods in bulk.
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Remove food from its original packaging and place it in plastic or glass containers with air-tight lids.
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Regularly inspect dry goods in the kitchen and pantry, throwing out old or expired items.
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Keep adult stored product pests out of your home by installing weatherstripping around windows and doors, replacing any damaged window or door screens, and replacing white outdoor lights with yellow or LED lights, which are less attractive to insects.
