Insects sometimes 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.
These insects can include tiny beetles roaming your kitchen, such as dermestid beetles or drugstore beetles. You may also spot small brownish moths drawn to the glow of lamps, like meal moths. The larvae of all these insects feed on dry food.
What can be done to control the situation?
The most important thing is to find and eliminate the larvae’s food sources. 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 :
- 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.