Moth Infestation in Pantry

One of the very common pests which are found in the pantries and kitchens of our homes are the pantry moths. These are actually named as the Indian Meal Moth and are found in any type of food material around the home or in wool and cotton. Pantry moths usually infest dry foods such as rice, cereal, flour, biscuits, and spices. There are other types of pantry moths which are named as Angoumois Grain Moth and the Mediterranean Flour Moth.

This moth infestation in pantry and other areas around the house occur because of untouched or unclean corners, which are a trigger for their survival. Some other places where such infestations can occur are in flower arrangements with plant bearing seeds, in food storage areas and in pet food storage areas. Moths multiply very fast and hence, detecting a moth infestation and getting rid of it as soon as possible, is always helpful. To help you get rid of such dangerous moth infection in kitchen foods and pantries, we have some tips given below, so take a look!

Moth Control in Pantry

The reason there is a commonly observed moth infestation in pantry is because, there is not much use of the room, other than storage. Due to the quiet and undisturbed environment, these moths lay eggs and reproduce into caterpillars and then adults. Their larval stage is the most prominent to identify and in this stage, they feed on the unused food stuffs, cotton, seeds, etc. The moth identification in pantry is very evident as you can see, large brown pantry months stuck to the ceiling or wall surfaces. The larval infestation is a little troublesome to identify as they are transparent eggs and not clearly visible to the naked eye. The infested material is seen more or less webbed together.

Getting Rid of Moth Infestation in Pantry

• In order to get rid of the moth infestation in pantry after identifying it, make sure you have raided all the areas in the house where there is infestation.
• Once you have found all the nooks and corners of these moths, remove all the items and materials present around that area, to clear the place completely.
• Use a pheromone moth trap around the infestation and set them out to see all these moths get attracted to their sticky graveyards. Some pheromones are specific to certain moths and thus, you should make sure you pick the right ones.
• Vacuuming every surface like walls, shelves, ceilings, pavements, etc around the pantry also helps get rid of these notorious pantry moths.
• Another way of killing them is to spray the infested areas with a light vinegar rinse. For this purpose, add some white vinegar into a spray bottle, coat and swab or apply it directly to the infested colony. You can also use moth repellents for the same purpose.
• Once the entire area of this infestation is cleaned out, wipe it carefully with a clean piece or cloth and some antiseptic and hygienic disinfectant. You can prevent the return of such infestation by following the further given tips.

Preventing Moth Infestation in Pantry

• Since there are more chances of an infestation in food items, make sure you place it in the freezer for a few days, if you are suspecting any larvae in the food. This is to kill any eggs/larvae which are already present in the food.
• Store in airtight containers, after you remove the food from the freezer. To ensure more protection and pest control, you can add some bay leaves to these airtight containers with the food. You can also place some bay leaves on the shelves in your pantry, to make sure there are no larvae in the pantry.
• Do not let your food items sit for a longer period of time, but replace them whenever possible. And carefully examine the food packages before buying them.
• Purchase a pheromone trap from the supermarket which have a pheromone insert & a sticky surface. The role of these traps is to attract the male moths which then get stuck on the trap and then die.

With the above mentioned tips to prevent and get rid moth infestation in pantry, you can surely protect your home from these pests which can cause a lot of pain. Instead of letting them grow in the house, make sure you can prevent their growth in the house itself.