Common Pantry Pests and How to Get Rid of Them

Just as their name suggests, pantry pests refer to a group of pests that feed on stored foods (most commonly found in your pantry). There are endless different species of insects that fall into this category, but the most common include certain moths, beetles and ants. If you don’t want to open a box of cereal and notice something crawling inside, keep reading to learn how to identify and prevent pantry pests.

Moths
Moths will vary in appearance and size, but most are smaller than two centimeters. They have two pairs of wings, are covered in scales and are gray or brown. You’ll most likely find them feeding on grain products.

Beetles
Different types of beetles have different diets and habitats. The types to most commonly find in your pantry are grain beetles, which are oval in shape and brown or black in color.

Ants
Pharaoh ants and rover ants are both commonly found in pantries, on kitchen counters and around sinks. Both are very small and move single-file in a row. Rover ants are brown or black, and pharaoh ants are orange in color.

To get rid of any of the above pantry pests, be sure to check all food items for contamination and thoroughly clean the shelves of your pantry. Make sure your food is being stored in containers with air-tight lids, and seal any cracks you may find in your shelves. It’s also important to inspect food and/or its packaging at the store before bringing it home.

Are you suspecting an infestation in your pantry or elsewhere? Contact Arrow Environmental Services for the best residential pest control in Tampa at 1-800-226-3139.