After my niece had a serious reaction to pest control, I realized that we were up against a few big problems. For starters, I knew that we needed to identify the types of pests that we were struggling with, and then we needed to find green products that would be safe for her to be around. It was a little bit of a challenge at first, but within a few weeks we found a company that offered the perfect line of products. I wanted to start a blog completely committed to pest control, so I started this site. Read more about keeping your family safe here.
A variety of pests can make themselves at home in the pantry, drawn there by the easy access to food and water. Getting rid of the pests depends upon the type you are dealing with.
Ants
An ant infestation usually starts with a few scouts. If they find food, either in poorly sealed containers or in the form of crumbs, then more ants will show up to bring the bounty back to the main nest. Sealing up food and keeping a very clean pantry and kitchen prevents an infestation from occurring in the first place. Perimeter spraying with a pesticide may be necessary to eliminate the ants.
Rodents
Mice and even rats can make themselves at home in the pantry. They will chew through packaging to get into food. Their waste and urine trails will render the entire pantry unsanitary. Sealing up food in glass and metal containers can help discourage mice but usually, traps or other professional pest control solutions are needed to fully eliminate rodents once they find their way into the house.
Pantry Moths
Pantry moths seem to appear from nowhere—one day you open a package and small moths flutter up. Moths get into all types of grains, from flour and cornmeal to rice. They will also feed on nuts, cereals, and even dried fruits. Storing food in airtight containers helps prevent an infestation. It's also important to keep a clean pantry and kitchen to help minimize the chances of an infestation. Once moths get into the pantry, deep cleaning and pest treatments may be needed to fully eliminate the problem.
Grain Weevils
These small, beetle-like pests feed only upon whole grains and dried legumes. They are often brought in with a bag of infested flour, oats, or beans, but then they can quickly spread to the other grains within the pantry. Freezing all grains and legumes for 24 hours will destroy any weevils or their eggs that are brought into the home. It's also important to seal these items in airtight containers to keep weevils out. A bad infestation may require a professional pest solution.
Cockroaches
Roaches hide in walls and other dark places where it can be hard to eradicate them. They are drawn to the kitchen if there are crumbs or food residue out for them to feed upon, or a water source such as leaking kitchen pipes. Cockroaches will also feed and nest inside cardboard. Removing food and water sources will help prevent cockroaches, but professional pest control is usually necessary to fully eradicate the pests.
Contact a pest control service for more info if you are battling pests in the kitchen.
Share12 August 2021
