What Pests Should I Be Worried About Infesting My Reno Pantry?
Rodents and cockroaches aren't considered pantry pests since they're far more detrimental to your home than just strictly food storage, but there are still quite a few food-centered pests that could invade your Reno pantry:
- Indian meal moth – depending on the food source, larvae are either off-white, pink, brown, or green, and they grow up to ½ of an inch in length; matured moths have dusty beige and rust-colored wings
- Confused flour beetle – flat and somewhat shiny, these beetles are only 1/8 of an inch long and reddish-brown in color.
- Sawtoothed grain beetle – this flat, brown beetle gets its name from the spikes on its thorax, but they only grows between 1/10 to 1/8 of an inch long.
- Merchant grain beetle – these beetles look startlingly similar to sawtoothed grain beetles, spikes and all, but are slightly shorter at 1/10 of an inch and look a bit stockier.
- Rice weevil – easily identified by its elongated snout, this stout, dark brown to black beetle has four yellow or reddish-brown spots on its forewings and is only 1/10 of an inch long.
- Cigarette beetle – these beetles are oval-shaped, yellowish to reddish-brown, and are only 1/10 of an inch long.
How Do Pantry Pests Invade Reno Homes?
Unfortunately, pantry pests often get inside Reno homes because we unknowingly bring them inside with us. Pests like Indian meal moths usually start their lives as eggs laid on or inside packaged grains, and since the eggs are so small, they're easily overlooked. This makes home pest control and prevention very difficult to achieve, but with a few extra precautions, you can significantly reduce your chances of a pantry pest infestation:
- Inspect food packages for any holes or tears before purchasing
- Store dried goods and pet foods in airtight containers
- Wipe down the outside of the packaging before putting it away, or remove the packaging entirely before storing your food in canisters
Pantry pests can also infest your Reno home on their own, though, so household precautions are necessary as well:
- Repair any damages and tears in the window and door screens
- Seal up any potential entry points around the exterior of your home, from foundation to roof
- Keep your exterior property nicely manicured – remove any mulch piles, lawn clippings, and miscellaneous debris from your lawn.
- Wipe down counters, dining areas, and food prep stations daily
- Sweep, mop, and vacuum regularly
- Never leave food or dirty dishes sitting out overnight
How Can I Get Rid Of Pests In My Reno Pantry?
Even though pantry pests are relatively harmless, occasional invaders, they're still infuriating as pests and costly for your grocery budget. Effective pantry pest control isn't just nearly impossible to achieve on your own, either – store-bought pesticides contain all kinds of dangerous chemicals that can be detrimental to your health. If you need to get rid of pantry pests without introducing carcinogens into your home, then you need Natura Pest Control.
Our mission as a home pest control company is to provide effective, affordable pest control with the lowest environmental impact possible. Our high-quality pesticides and equipment are innovative and family-friendly, so you can be sure to receive the best pest control treatments with minimal risks to your health and home. Getting rid of pantry pests shouldn't become a nightmare, so get in contact with us today to learn more about how we can help you.