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Every year, I have a schedule to check and clean out my pantry. Hopefully, you do, too! While mine is later in summer, spring is a good time to think of cleaning out because you were baking up a storm just a couple of months back.
There may be little black looking insects in and around my foods; or moths flying around the kitchen, as is the case. These are all called "pantry pests." They can be a nuisance as well as a health hazard. These are our No. 1 insects brought into our clinic for identification. They are easier to eradicate now, rather than later.
I take everything out of my pantry and clean it thoroughly, wiping out each shelf and vacuuming in the crevices. Then check all wrapped boxes, bags, and jars for "debris," or evidence of insect activity in my products. Check the expiration dates and each item as well. Items to be checked are: cereal products, flour, cake mixes, rice, spaghetti, pastas, crackers, cookies, seeds, dried beans, popcorn, nuts, chocolate, dried fruits, spices, tea, birdseed, pet foods, dried flowers and potpourri.
These insects can chew through cardboard, plaster in walls, books, plastic bags, paper and many other soft mediums. An adult lays eggs in a food stuff, the eggs hatch and the larvae eat the food, pupate, then crawl or fly out when mature. These insects are the Indian Meal Moth, Meal Moth, Saw-toothed Grain Beetle, Drugstore Beetle and Cigarette Beetle.
Indian Meal Moth (Plodia inter punctella) has a half-inch wingspan, is pale grey with reddish brown luster and flies around in homes. Meal Moths (Pyralis farinalis) have three-quarters to a 1-inch wingspan and are reddish brown with a white wavy band on its wings.
Saw-toothed Grain Beetle (Oryzaephilus surinamensis) is one-tenth of an inch, slender, reddish brown, and has saw-like teeth on the sides of its thorax (middle area). The Drugstore Beetle (Lasioderma serricorne) and the Cigarette Beetle (stegobium panicum) are quite similar. Both are brown, one-eighth of an inch long, heads down so not readily visible, and both fly.
Remedies for eliminating or at least keeping them in check are to first clean as I have already stated. Get in the nooks and crannies to clean out all adults, larvae and eggs. Then check all food products to be sure there are no infestations from the grocery store. These can be the origin of your insects. Do not buy more than you can consume in two months or store these goods in the freezer. Store foods in appropriate places.
If you are diligent, you can protect your pantry from the pantry pests and save yourself food and money.