Pest Guide for Pantry Beetles
Pantry beetles aren’t just one type of beetle – the term actually refers to a large group of beetles that are known for infesting pantry foods in both homes and businesses. Unfortunately, they often go unnoticed until they’re physically seen in near a food source and because there are so many different species, it’s important for a professional pest control company to identify them and eliminate them.
Appearances
Because they hide in your pantry foods, pantry beetles are small insects. Most species measure between 2 millimeters and 4 millimeters and are brown or black. While beetles like the drugstore beetle, confused flour beetle, and merchant grain beetle have rounded or oval heads and thin legs, rice weevils, granary weevils, and maize weevils have long snouts protruding from their heads and thicker legs.
Diets
When it comes to the pantry beetle diet, there are internal feeders and external feeders. Internal feeders are beetles that complete their life cycles inside of the foods they eat, which commonly include rice, seeds, beans, corn, pasta, wheat, and barley. External feeders, on the other hand, complete their life cycles outside of their foods and feed on things like spices, seeds, dried fruits, tobacco, cereals, and nuts.
Prevention
While pantry beetles can make their way indoors on their own, many times these beetles are in the food products that you bring home with you. In order to prevent an infestation, here are some tips:
- Before you buy a product, examine the packaging to make sure it’s not damaged
- Store foods in glass or clear plastic containers so you can see the contents
- Use the food you buy before the expiration date
- Keep your pantry clean and organized
- Make sure the lids on your containers are tightly fitted
If you do find pantry beetles in your home or office, don’t hesitate to call our pest control experts. We’ll identify the species of beetle and work quickly to eliminate it.
