Insects generally make their way into our kitchens through packaged or bulk products. They may also hide in the folds of paper bags or cardboard boxes transported from one place to another. Some may even enter from outside and lay their eggs in our pantry.
The small beetles roaming around your kitchen or moths attracted by your lamps might be meal moths, dermestid beetles, drugstore beetles or other small beetles whose larvae feed on dry goods.
What can be done to control the situation?
The most important thing is to find and eliminate the larvae’s food source. They may be:
- Dried foodstuffs in the pantry or that have been forgotten elsewhere in the house.
- Dried pet food or bags of birdseed.
In the food sources, there is usually more than one visible larva. Some of them can be recognized because they produce small silk threads that cause blades of rice or form piles in flour.
Prevention and control:
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Place dry goods in hermetically sealed containers.
- Sweep or vacuum regularly – every day if necessary.
- Clean all kitchen cabinets and surfaces to remove crumbs and other residue.
- Eliminate contaminated foodstuffs.