Avoiding Pantry Pests This Fall

It is fall and you know what that means? It is time for the holidays. What traditions do you share with your family? Do you go out together and pick some apples at the orchard to make some apple pies from scratch? Do you find some pumpkins, carve them into scary faces, and use the extra parts to make cider bisque, pumpkin gut bread–or toast the seeds in the oven? Is it your responsibility to make the signature dish that everyone looks forward to every year? Over the next three months, there are lots of reasons to be in the kitchen. Holiday traditions and food go together. Here are some tips to prevent pantry pests from accidentally making themselves part of your holiday food preparations.

  • Many pests that invade our pantries come from outside of our homes. The first step to protecting pantry foods is to have someone seal up entry points in your exterior walls and foundation.
  • When pests get into your pantry, you want to make sure that they have a hard time getting into your food. A good practice is to put all food that comes in cardboard or paper packaging into plastic containers that seal. Not only will this keep the aroma of those food products from luring pests in, it will keep resourceful pests from chewing their way in.
  • Before pests get into your food, they often come into your pantry to nibble on food particles left on your shelves. It is a good practice to do a routine cleaning of your pantry shelves to make this food storage area less interesting to any bugs that have found their way inside. Be sure to get the floor too. Particles and dried liquids are all it takes to make pantry pests feel at home.
  • Some pantry pests don’t come in from the outside, they are carried in. It is vital to check all of your food packages before you purchase them. Look for any holes or tears that beetles and weevils would take advantage of.
  • Before the holiday cooking season, it is a great idea to check all of the expiration dates on your stored foods and throw away old products. Pests are especially attracted to foods that are expiring.

These tips should make a big difference in your pantry but sometimes, no matter what we do, pests find a way in. If you see pests in your pantry, and you’re in our Knoxville service area, contact Active Pest Control to fully resolve the problem before it’s time to get cooking.

Common Moths In Knoxville

When a moth gets into your Knoxville home, it is important to know what kind of moth it is. While moths themselves aren’t much of a threat, their offspring can be. It is the larvae of moths that can infest your food and cause damage to your belongings. In Tennessee, there are two common moths that have offspring that can do these things in your home. We’re going to take a quick look at them today and talk about what you need to know most about clothes moths and Indian meal moths.

Identification

The easiest way to determine what kind of moth you have is not by visual identification but by where you find these moths. Since clothes moths, also referred to as casemaking clothes moths, have larvae that feed on clothing and other fabrics. These moths are likely to be drawn to closet and storage areas that have fabrics in them. Indian meal moths are pantry pests. You’re going to find these moths fluttering around areas where food is stored.

Visually, these moths are quite different. The Indian meal moth has bold bands of brown and tan coloring, with a large portion of the tips of its wings being a dark brown. Clothing moths are more of a uniform tan coloring and they have a furry head.

Clothing Moth Diet

If you’re seeing a moth fluttering around your home, it is an adult, and you don’t have much to worry about with adult clothing moths feeding on your belongings. They do not eat. Their only purpose, once they reach adulthood, is to lay eggs and create a new batch of moths. It is the young moths that feed on clothing, bed spreads, curtains, tapestries, and other fabric–and these do not look like moths at all. They are creamy-white caterpillars.

Indian Meal Moth’s Diet

These moths will feed on a wide variety of pantry food, but they are particularly fond of flour, rice, cereals, pasta, dry pet food, spices, seeds, and nuts. Like the clothing moth, these moths are only looking to lay eggs in the food they are fluttering around. It is the larvae that feed on pantry foods. They are also creamy-white caterpillars.

Pest Control For Moth

If moths have taken root in your Knoxville home, it is vital to call a pest control expert. These can be frustrating pests to deal with without an education in their biology and behavioral patterns. Have one of the knowledgeable pest specialists here at Active Pest Control do a thorough inspection and provide targeted protocols to eliminate the infestation before these invaders can do any more harm. Reach out to us right here on our webpage for immediate assistance.