Pantry Pests

Beetles, moths and weevils are the most common pantry pests found in Arizona but all types of insects and pests can be brought into your home in dry goods. Once in your pantry, pests like these will infest your cereals, flour, grains, rice, pastas, nuts, dried beans, dried fruits, crackers and cookies and any other dry foods you store in your pantry. Some pests are attracted to the fats in dog and cat food.

Entry: Pests associated with living in your pantry are usually brought in as eggs in your dry goods. Since adults are easier to spot, infested foods are often discarded prior to being sold. But the eggs are not as apparent and easily escape detection. Once in the cool dark spaces of your pantry, these pests will feast on your food items and reproduce rapidly.

Do-it-yourself Effectiveness: Inspect foods before storing them in your pantry. Transfer dry goods to an airtight container. If you find dry goods that have been invaded by pests, discard the food immediately in a sealed bag and away from your home to reduce the chance of them escaping and returning to your pantry. Dry goods stored near the infested foods should also be inspected. Look for holes in the outer packaging and signs of the bugs inside the bagged foods.