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Household Insects · Pest guide

Pantry Pests control

Grain beetles, weevils and moths in stored food: find the source, then protect the whole pantry.

When to call a pro

Field profile

Pantry Pests at a glance

Stored-product insects

Health risk
Lowof 3
Property damage
Moderateof 3
Do it yourself?
Usually DIYA homeowner can handle this
Size
1/16 to 3/8 inch (1.5–10 mm) adults; larvae often larger
Appearance
Small beetles, weevils and moths; adults are quick and fly from disturbed grain
Where found
Dry stored food: pantry shelves, cereal and flour boxes, pet food, birdseed, rice and pasta bins
When pantry pests are active Peak: Mar–Sep
  1. Jan Active
  2. Feb Active
  3. Mar Peak
  4. Apr Peak
  5. May Peak
  6. Jun Peak
  7. Jul Peak
  8. Aug Peak
  9. Sep Peak (this month)
  10. Oct Active
  11. Nov Active
  12. Dec Active

Low Active Peak This month

Signs to look for

  • Small silken webbing or fluff between grains
  • Round holes bored through packaging
  • Moths flying from a cupboard when the light comes on
  • Dust, cast skins or webbing in the crevices of a grain bin
  • A musty or scorched smell from a food container

Call a professional when

  • A commercial kitchen, food warehouse or retail stock where losing inventory is expensive
  • Evidence spread across rooms you cannot isolate
  • Repeated reinfestation in the same pantry after a full clean-out
How to choose a pest control company

Safety first

Discard infested food — do not sift and keep it. Do not apply pesticides to food or food containers, and never spray a pantry with a fogger.

Our pantry pests guides are being researched. Meanwhile, the profile above covers the signs, the risks and when to call a professional.

Keep pantry pests out

  1. Buy small quantities and rotate stock, oldest food first
  2. Store grain, flour, pet food and birdseed in airtight hard-sided containers
  3. Freeze suspect dry goods for 72 hours before storing them
  4. Vacuum cracks and shelving edges, then wipe with soapy water

Often confused or found together

All household insects
Moths Pantry moths in the flour and clothes moths in the closet. Mice Droppings, gnawing and scratching in walls: trapping, sealing and safe cleanup. Carpet Beetles Tiny beetles whose larvae chew wool, fur and stored fabrics.
Photo credits

Thank you to Mvuijlst, Ahunt and Luis Fernández García for sharing these beautiful photographs and helping bring this guide to life.

Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0 · CC0