Preventing Pantry Pests

With the holidays past it’s time to store away all the decorations and leftover baking goodies until its time to bake the next sweet treat. Storing away the flour, dried fruits and nuts, chocolates and more is the norm for those of us who go a bit far with our sweet tooth!

Now that the holidays are over and everything is stored away, it’s time to go about our routines and get back to work. It’s also time for those pantry pests to arrive and find out what leftover goodies have been stored away from the holidays. Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences did a full article on pantry pests, their list consists of various insect types.

There are a number of critters that are interested in what you have stored in your pantry. Including ants, pillbugs, weevils, and beetles, not to mention the mice. Each of these rest under the label of pantry pest, as they take advantage of our stored goods and just help themselves. Typically, the insects don’t pose much health risk to us, however, the mice do. Regardless, these mini-invasions into our pantries and cabinets can become quite the nuisance!

So in this article, we are going to discuss the types of foods and items that pantry pests are attracted to, and the best practices at stopping them in their tracks and turning them the other way.

 

What Do Pantry Pests Like?

As listed above items like flour, dried fruit and nuts along with chocolates are the big ones. Additional foods that pests are attracted to include but are not limited to:

 

• Oatmeal
• Seeds
• Grains
• Birdseed
• Pet food
• Powdered milk
• Candy

 

Alongside this list of food, these pests can also be attracted to decorations as well, such as dried flowers and potpourri.

 

How To Prevent Pantry Pests

 

Proper storage

Investing in a good sized Tupperware or jar type containers with secure lids will help prevent pests from getting to your food. Not only do these storage containers prevent access, but they also block fragrances and smells that originally attract these pests into your pantry.

 

Store Seasonal Decor

Any type of dried foliage such as potpourri, flowers, and even Indian corn needs to be stored in airtight containers to prevent pests from nesting during the down season. The last thing you want when you go to open your holiday goodies for next year is to find them destroyed with plenty of critters scuttling around. Try adding bay leaves to your stored items to help prevent fragrances from attracting the insects, while still maintaining the integrity of your current holiday decor.

Keep Things Tidy

Clean up spills as they happen and sweep up crumbs from all over the home. These good habits will go a long way in deterring pests from entering your home and taking up residence. However, if you find you do have a pest issue, be sure to give us a call right here at Total Pest Solutions! Our experts are able to come and assess your situation and provide expert advice and pest control solutions.