When you open up a bag of cereal in the morning you expect to find cereal inside, not little grubs wriggling about. Finding bugs in your food is never a pleasant experience. One bug that regularly gets into food boxes is the pantry moth. Here is everything you should know about the pantry moths in San Diego and how to stop these local insects from invading your kitchen in the first place. Contact Green Flash Pest Control if you need immediate assistance with an active pantry pest problem inside your home. We are experts on pest control in San Diego and are standing by to lend you a helping hand.
Pantry Moths Are Pretty Easy To Identify
There are many insects here in San Diego that are difficult to identify. Pantry moths are not one of these pests. These local bugs leave many clear signs of their presence and have no problem fluttering around living spaces. The most common species of pantry moth is the Indian meal moth. Identify one of these insects by its ⅝” long body and the copper-reddish coloration on the outside of its wings. One good way to identify an early infestation is to check boxes of food for Indian meal moth eggs and wiggling larvae. Although Indian meal moths themselves do not eat dry food, they do use it to provide nutrients for their young. It is not uncommon for infestations to spread rapidly through boxes inside pantries. If you think these pests are around but you aren’t sure, bring in our team for a thorough pest inspection. We offer quick Indian meal moth identification at Green Flash Pest Control.
How Pantry Moths Can Be A Nuisance In Your Home
Before we talk about the best way to get rid of Indian meal moths, let's talk about why these pests are a problem. Like other pantry pests, pantry moths contaminate food sources. No one wants to pour a bowl of cereal and find wriggling Indian meal moth larvae. Although it is not medically dangerous to consume these larvae, no one in their right mind would want to. On top of this, it hurt to have to throw away food constantly because of contamination. Another thing that is annoying is having moths fluttering around indoors. As infestations grow, so will the population of adult moths. You will find them on your bedside table, your television, in the kitchen, and even in the bathroom. The good news is that there are ways to control pantry moths and ensure they get and stay out of your home.
Simple Tips To Prevent Pantry Moths In Your Home
No one likes finding pests inside their home, especially if they are laying eggs inside boxes of food. To stop the pantry pests around your home from becoming the pantry pests inside your home, here are some simple prevention tips to utilize today.
- Check boxes of food for holes and other damage before buying them from the store.
- Use some silicone caulk or liquid cement to fill in holes, gaps, and cracks around your home’s exterior foundation.
- Repair window/door screens and make sure they are installed properly.
- Keep unscreened windows and doors closed if you are not using them.
- Use weatherstripping and door sweeps to seal off potential entry points.
- Turn off exterior lights at night or invest in insect-resistant light bulbs.
Keeping up with pest prevention is difficult. Although we cannot stop you from buying boxes contaminated with eggs and larvae, our team does offer many great pest control solutions to stop insects from invading through your home’s exterior walls. If you are interested to learn more about our services, we would love to talk details.
How To Get Rid Of Pantry Moths Fast
You do not have to live with pantry moths inside your home. If you are facing an active infestation and want these pests out fast, get in touch with our team at Green Flash Pest Control. We deeply understand local invasive insects and offer many amazing service options to help locals identify, eliminate, and prevent these threats. Let us pay you a visit to assess the condition of your infestation and offer some simple solutions to get and keep Indian meal moths and other local pantry pests out of your home.
Contact us now if you want more information about our services and find a home pest control option that best suits you and your San Diego home.