Only purchase items that you will use in a short amount of time; the longer things sit in your pantry, the more likely they are to get infested.
It’s nice to know that when it comes to pest prevention, there are many things that you can do on your own to help control the bugs and rodents. Of course any pest infestations should be left to the professionals in pest control to take care of, but when it comes to prevention the more you do on your own, the less risk of an infestation. Pantry pests are just one of the many nuisance pests that can easily try to take over the kitchen cupboards and food pantry. Common pantry pests in the MidwestandQuadcities include the Saw-Toothed Grain Beetle, the Indian-Meal Moth and the Confused Flour Beetle. But don’t forget about the ants, rodents, and cockroaches who may also sneak into the pantry if they are tempted by open food containers.
At Plunkett’s Pest Control, we are committed to helping you achieve a pest free home no matter what, and we understand that sometimes DIY pest controlmethods are enough to battle the bugs. So to help control pantry pests from taking over the kitchen cabinets, here are some ways homeowners can prevent them before a problem arises:
Avoid purchasing items in bulk that you will not use often, such as flours, rice, and pastas. You may save some pennies at the store by buying in bulk, but you will really increase your risk of pests finding their way into your food if it’s sitting on the shelf for a long period of time.
When you are at the grocery store, make sure to inspect your packaged food before tossing it in the cart. You want to make sure that there are no holes, tears, or other damages to the packaging, as this could mean that there was space for a beetle or a moth to crawl inside.
Before restocking your pantry full of food, it is a good time to go through old items and toss out anything that is past it’s date or that has been left open for a long period of time.
Clean your pantry and kitchen cabinets to remove crumbs or spills.
Whenever you open a container or a package, make sure to inspect it for any signs of pantry pests before you use it. Most pantry pests get into the packaging at the food facility so it’s best to look right away.
Make sure to keep all food sealed when it is stored in the pantry or cupboards. The best method is to use containers with tight fitting lids so you can be sure that no little pests like ants, rodents, or even cockroaches can get to it.
If your efforts to control the pantry pests are not enough and you have discovered more than just flour in the bag, there is no need to worry. Plunkett’s offers effective treatment options for pantry pests as well as other common pests that may invade your kitchen in the Midwest, including Minneapolis and Alexandria, Minnesota as well as the QuadCities. Simply contact us today and you will be on your way to a pest free food pantry and kitchen in no time!
Pantry Pests 
