How to avoid or eliminate pantry pests in your home?

After thousands of years of trial and error, humans continue to perfect the art of food safety, preservation, and storage. Unfortunately, bugs and other vermin have had even more time to learn how to invade your costly stash. Pests in the pantry are a universal problem whether you’re royalty or a commoner.

You’ve probably had your share of disgusting invaders in your New Jersey pantry. It doesn’t matter if you live in the city or the countryside. Pest invasion can be a complex problem leading to property damage, contaminated food, and severe health risks.

The more you understand the culprits and their habits, the easier it is to keep them out of your house. It’s better to avoid a vermin infestation than to deal with one after the fact. Knowledge is power, and you’ll be able to prevent these unwelcome guests before they make a home in your pantry.

New Jersey’s Pantry Pest Lineup

Your first proactive step is to identify potential pests correctly. The Garden State is home to countless wildlife creatures, and some have a fondness for human dwellings. Here’s a short lineup of some of the worst offenders for you to consider.

1. Grain Weevil

Have you ever opened a bag of flour and noticed a bunch of tiny disgusting bugs digging around in it? These are grain weevils, also called wheat weevils, and they are significant problems in granaries across the globe. They travel in infested grains, seeds, and nuts, contaminating as they go.

Although grain weevils don’t destroy property, don’t bite or sting, and don’t carry disease, they’re still pests. Nobody wants to cook with flour or rice crawling with gross little bugs. Learning how to prevent them in the first place is the key.

2. Flour Beetles

These minuscule flour beetles are another bothersome bug you may encounter in your pantry. Depending on the species, they can be red or black, and they are a bit smaller than a rice grain. Their food of choice is any whole grain and even processed items like hard pet food.

Flour beetles can’t bite, sting, or carry disease like their creepy cousin, the grain weevil. They may cause an allergic reaction in a sensitive human on rare occasions. The bad news is that they discolor and contaminate any of your grain products and give them a foul odor.

3. Merchant Grain Beetles

These yucky bugs are reddish-brown and have saw-like structures on their sides. They are more significant than the previous two beetles at about 1/8 inches long. They prefer grain products rather than grains and will nibble pasta and chocolate.

Merchant beetles also aren’t a threat of disease, biting, or stinging. They contaminate the food they touch, and it’s not fit to eat. These also are transported in food factories and warehouses.

4. Fruit Flies

If you raise your produce in an iconic New Jersey Garden, you’re all too familiar with this next pest. They’ll also be buzzy happily around any store-bought fruits and veggies on your counter or in the pantry.

Fruit flies are bitsy winged bugs attracted to the scent and juices of sweet produce. They lay eggs in the softened fruit and multiply quickly into unsightly and irritating swarms. Plus, they can ruin a lot of crops, which is going to cost you a great deal of money.

They may be smaller than the head of a pin, but they can carry germs from one surface to another. Harmful microbes like listeria, E. coli, and salmonella cling to their bodies and cause food poisoning. Anything they touch is dangerous to consume.

5. Cockroaches

These putrid pests have been invading human food supplies since early humans lived in caves. Throughout ancient history, cockroaches have been the bane of domestic existence. Of the approximately 4,000 species globally, 55 are located in the United States, and seven species in New Jersey.

Just the mention of these sickening invaders makes people’s skin crawl. Cockroaches have a voracious appetite and can quickly infest your pantry and the entire home. They can move from place to place by anything you bring into your residence, such as furniture, boxes, food, clothing, and appliances.

Cockroaches are a serious threat to you, your family, and your pets. They are fond of digging through trash and outside filth and carrying it into your home. They contaminate food and all surfaces with germs on their body plus their leave a trail behind of their gross fecal matter.

6. Mice and Rats

Insects aren’t the only pests that can find a hideaway in your pantry. The classic cartoon character that packs millions of visitors to theme parks is cute and has made his way into everyone’s heart. However, there’s nothing adorable about a mouse or rat wreaking havoc in your pantry.

These tiny pests can cause massive damage. Not only can they chew through your food and storage, but they can also chew wires and drywall. Yes, this is one pest you don’t want to hang around for long.

Of the many pests that can infest your New Jersey home, rats and mice may pose one of the worst threats. They carry many deadly diseases, including the one that causes bubonic plague. These revolting rodents gnaw and destroy property, steal food, and contaminate everything with vile urine and droppings.

How to Keep Pantry Pests Away

If you see one of these loathsome pests lurking in your pantry, chances are there are more you can’t see. Being proactive may help you effectively avoid an infestation. Here are some helpful hints to consider.

1. Seal up any Entry Points to Your Home

Any breach in your foundation, doors, or windows is a welcome mat to hungry pests. Clear brush away from your foundation and keep foliage trimmed. Check for any cracks, crevices, or holes and seal them. Repair or replace damaged screens and seal cracks in doors and windows.

2. Avoid Pesky Stowaways

Did you know that one of the worst places to pick up vermin stowaways is the grocery store? Produce and other food items often travel hundreds of miles in trucks and railcars and are stored in gigantic warehouses. These are the usual hideouts for pests who hitch a ride inside boxes, bags, crates, and packages.

Consider bringing reusable shopping bags to bag your groceries. Avoid paper bags and bulk boxes and try to buy food with as little packaging as possible. Inspect packages in the store for any signs of pests before you buy.

Do another inspection and wipe off bottles and cans with disinfecting wipes when you get home. Wash your produce well before storing it where it belongs. Send any plastic bags to your local recycling center if you have any hanging around your home.

3. Use Smart Storage

When it comes to storage, you must outsmart any possible pests. Invasive insects may be tiny, but they can effortlessly bore through paper, plastic, and cardboard. Foil their plans by using Tupperware-like containers with sealing lids. Seal grains, cereals, and beans in glass jars. Leave nothing open that could attract any vermin.

4. Clean Your Pantry Regularly

If you want to keep your pantry and food supplies pest-free, it needs attention at least once a week. Dispose of any containers, pantry pests are found inside before they spread. Wipe up any spills you see immediately and check for opened or damaged packages.

Avoid expired food by rotating your food supplies. You should keep the things that expire first in the front, and the items with more shelf life go in the back. Keep trash cans and recycling bins tightly covered. Wipe the shelves and sweep the pantry floors regularly.

5. Eliminate Moisture from Your Pantry

Like humans, invasive insects and rodents need water to survive. Some of them, such as cockroaches, thrive in the dark, damp spaces. Avoid leaving open water containers in your kitchen and pantry and use a dehumidifier if needed.

Never Use Chemical Pesticides around Food

Your gut reaction to discovering pests in your pantry is to go out and buy the latest chemical pesticide. Not only are these products deadly for pests, but they can harm you, your family, and your pets. Plus, they are hazardous to the environment.

Using chemical pesticides in your kitchen and pantry can be more dangerous than dealing with the pests themselves. They can contaminate your food and any surfaces and may become airborne. Many of these chemicals are neurotoxins that can be lethal to humans and domestic animals.

Instead, try using natural deterrents that are harmless to you and your pets. Research natural ingredients and essential oils that repel pests and are safe to use around food. Some fresh herbs like bay leaves are a good example.

Calling For Help

Dealing with pantry pests in New Jersey can be frustrating. If you have an infestation, it can be costly and threaten your health. Call the professionals to see what options you have should you have an issue with any of these unwelcomed guests.

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