Stored Product Pest Identification & Prevention

What are stored product pests?

Stored product pests are insects that feed on and damage stored cereals, grains, nuts, flour, spices, and other food products. They can be a serious problem for homes and businesses with food storage areas. Common stored product pests include grain beetles and Indian meal moths. Grain beetles are small, reddish-brown insects. Indian meal moths are larger than grain beetles and have distinct bi-colored wings.

Are stored product pests dangerous?

Grain beetles and Indian meal moths do not carry harmful diseases, but that doesn't mean you want them infesting your food. They can contaminate or spoil stores of food, requiring you to throw it away. They will lay eggs in and around food sources, and their larvae will feed on the surrounding grains, which can result in substantial losses for home pantries or businesses that have food storage areas. Identifying any stored product pest infestations quickly and taking the necessary steps to control them is important.

Why do I have a stored product pest problem?

These pests often find their way inside through existing cracks or crevices in walls, ceilings, or floors. Additionally, they may hitchhike on packaging materials from another infested location that has shipped to you. They can also enter through open doors and windows if you haven't taken proper preventive measures to keep them out.

Where will I find stored product pests?

Stored product pests can infest any environment where food is stored, such as homes, restaurants, grocery stores, and warehouses. They usually enter the premises through open doors or windows, cracks in the walls and ceilings, or by hitchhiking in bags of grain and food products. Check pantries, cupboards, shelves, and other areas where food products are stored. Signs of activity such as webbing, shed skins, or larvae casings may indicate an infestation. In addition to infesting dry goods like cereal and flour, these pests may also feed on pressed wood products, books, and pet foods.

How do I get rid of stored product pests?

Once stored product pests have infested your home, getting rid of them on your own can be hard. The infestation may not be completely gone even if you successfully remove them from one space. The best way to rid your home or business of stored product pests is to contact a professional home pest control service like High Country Pest Control. We have the tools and experience to identify and effectively remove stored product pests from your home or business. Additionally, we will make sure to monitor the area over time so that we can stop any new infestations before they get out of hand. With our help, you can rest assured that stored product pests will be a thing of the past.

How can I prevent stored product pests in the future?

You can help prevent future stored product pest infestations in your home or business by taking a few preventive measures:

• Regularly maintain and monitor food storage areas.
• Seal all cracks in walls, ceilings, doors, and windows.
• Inspect any incoming bags of grain or other food products for signs of an infestation before bringing them inside.
• Make sure pet food containers are sealed properly after each use.
• Keep pantries and cupboards clean by periodically wiping the shelves down with a damp cloth.

Following these steps can help protect your property from an unwelcome pest invasion and ensure that all your stored goods remain safe. If you suspect you already have a stored product pest problem, contact High Country Pest Control for pest control in Colorado Springs or help identifying and treating the situation quickly and efficiently.