Pantry Pests

After vanishing for a half-century, bed bugs are back with a vengeance. Also known as the "travelers bug," these insects are increasingly being encountered in homes, apartments, hotels, motels, dormitories, shelters, and modes of transportation. Bed bugs are small, brownish, flattened insects that feed solely on the blood of animals.

The most common pantry pest are the Indian Meal Moth, Cigarette Beetle, Drugstore Beetle, and the Rice Weevil. These pests commonly infest pet food, spices, candy, nuts, pasta, cereal, and flour. These pests can not be controlled until the food source has been located and eliminated. Once that is done we can move forward with control. This involves the use of air tight food storage containers, the clean up of any spilled food products, and the thorough cleaning of all food storage areas.

If these steps are undertaken one can usually eliminate the problem without the application of toxic sprays. It is usually necessary to thoroughly inspect all food products within the area of infestation. If a food package is open it is generally a good idea to discard it. We use the motto "when in doubt throw it out." Establishing control can be time consuming and we want to do it right the first time. Another option for opened food products is to place the product in the freezer for a minimum of 6 days. This will kill any and all eggs and larvae that my be present.

If you suspect an infestation please call Omega ASAP. The longer you wait the further the infestation can spread through your food stuffs and the more costly is will be. We have the knowledge and experience to control this infestation and restore order in your kitchen.