Stop Stored Product Insects Ruining Your Pancake Day

Pancake Day is coming up and the last thing you want when you go to use your flour is to find pests in it. Stored Product Insects like moths and beetles feast on and contaminate dried foods in your cupboards. Here’s how to prevent them. 

How Do They Get In?

Sometimes, pests like beetles and moths can get in from the outside, but they can also be present in foods when you bring them into the home. 

What Foods Do Stored Product Insects Prefer?

Any type of dry food is fair game. This includes:

Flour, cornmeal, and cake mixes

Rice and whole grains

Beans and legumes

Breakfast cereals

Pasta

Cookies and crackers

Spices and herbs 

Dried fruit

Chocolate

Nuts

Tea

Powdered milk

Pet food

Why You Need to Control Stored Product Insects

Stored Product Insects breed fast, and once they are in your home, they’ll move quickly from one area to another in search of more foodstuffs. 

Although Stored Product Insects pose no significant health risk to humans, they can damage and contaminate foodstuffs, rendering them unfit for consumption. Not only that, the kids might be upset on pancake day if they see insects crawling in the flour you want to use. 

What are the Signs of Stored Product Insects in my Home?

If there’s an infestation in your home, you might notice;

• Adult insects- moths flying around, or beetles in your cupboards
• Damage to food packaging and the food itself-food may appear discoloured or mouldy
• Track marks in dust or flour

How Can I Prevent Stored Product Insects in My Home?

This can be tricky, because if you bring contaminated food into your home, you might not spot a problem for a little while. However, you can prevent further problems by;

• Storing food products in airtight containers
• Vacuuming the inside of cupboards to get rid of food debris as this attracts pests 
• Returning food to a retailer if you believe that’s where the infestation came from

What Should I Do if There’s a Stored Product Insect Infestation in My Home?

Throw away any infested products in an outdoor bin. Give your cupboards a deep clean. Then call in professional pest control. Professional technicians understand Stored Product Insects and they know which products will be effective, and how to carry out a targeted treatment. 

Claim back your home and don’t let Stored Product Pests ruin your Pancake Day, call Contego!