After that, theyre in the larvae stage, which is actually where most of the real damage to your pantry items takes place. 1. And we are no stranger to them in the Lowcountry. Pantry moth larvae, like the very hungry caterpillars they are, will eat their way through as many of your dried foods as they can before settling down to build their cocoons. What Do Pantry Moths Eat. You can invest in a few commercial pantry moth traps which use pheromones to attract moths and trap them. These are typically made from a glue board and a pheromone soaked square that attracts the male indian meal moth, bird seed moth etc, and captures them. This is why I wouldn't recommend only using these traps. The Pantry moth (P. inerpentella) is one of the several insects known to feed on stored grains and other dried food. This way, If you inadvertently bring food home from the grocery storethat contains eggs, the moths wont be able to get out of the jar when they hatch, so youll only have that one jar of food to throw away. Be thorough as you look over these items: If youve seen even one pantry moth near a certain cupboard or inside your pantry, thentroubling as it may beall non-airtight packaging within the area may have been compromised by pests. Indian meal moths are partial to anything in your pantry, from grains and rice to even hot chocolate mix and spices. Along the way, look for larval sacs (or webs of any sort). Cleaning the pantry thoroughly 6. If you really want to keep some pantry items, store them in the freezer for at least four days to be safe! Save Pin It. Check the gap between cabinets and the walls or between cabinets, behind appliances and even behind outlet or switch plate covers. If youve had a pretty bad infestation consider keeping food out of your pantry for weeks. (Make sure to check the labels first). Pantry moths are grey, brown and tan in color and these pests will literally feed on almost any dry food (include your pet food!). Mixing in a few drops of a fragrant essential oil like peppermint can also help deter any lingering moths. Step 1: Create physical barriers, such as a netted structure over plants, to keep pests away. Also, keep an eye out for small holes in packaging. Wash any jars or other containers carefully before returning them to storage. Simply spray the solution on surfaces and wipe down with a cloth. Pantry moths are the definition of nuisance pests! Leave any suspect packaging right there on the shelf, then run the other way! Step No. The safest bet is to keep everything out of the pantry for a few weeks to ensure the pantry moths are gone for good. If you have drawers pay special attention to areas around drawer glides or other supports where pantry moths might hide. Use of Pantry Pest Trap 5. Dry clean or wash other clothes in hot water and tumble dry on high heat. This step is a hard pill for some people to swallow, but to be absolutely sure, its best to get rid of everything in your pantry in a cardboard or plastic container. Use the solution and a cotton swab to clean any small crevices or such as holes for shelf support pegs. So what should you do if you have pantry moths in your home? Yes, pantry moths can eat through plastic and cardboard! Get expert advice on your home, design tips, how much to pay for pros and hiring experts, delivered to you daily. Although they are quite similar in size to their closet moth cousins (about a quarter of an inch or so with a half-inch wingspan), they have a more distinct reddish-brown hue on the outside of their wings that make them easy to spot. Online shops such as In Essence carry pure, high grade essential oils which will work best. Grain moths also produce a dusty . STEP 1: Empty the pantry and inspect its contents. Their small size makes them easy to overlook in your kitchen until your storage space is infested by the insects. When it comes to getting rid of moths, the gold standard pest control solution is a pheromone moth trap. They may also be attracted to other insects that are present in the pantry. Vacuum all shelves and corners, then wash with soap and water. Look way beyond your pantry for moths, webs and/or larvae, e.g., around your ceilings and the walls of your food-storage spaces. tb1234 Peppermint Oil Pantry Moth Repellent 1 cup of water 1 cup white vinegar Peppermint oil Spray bottle Sponge tb1234 Finally, its well worth mentioning that pantry moths often piggy-back home with you from the grocery store. By Bob Vila | Updated Apr 13, 2021 10:26 AM. Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made. Although pantry moths are known to enter your home through doors and windows or openings around vents and cables, they almost always gain entry through purchased dry food items that were contaminated at the food processing or packaging plant. This compensation comes from two main sources. 7. Discard all infested foods that you find and if you find larvae on the outside of cans, wipe them down with undiluted vinegar. The compensation we receive for those placements affects how and where advertisers offers appear on the site. Heres what you need to do before we treat your pantry for Indianmeal moths. If after several cleanings you continue to have a problem, start by enlarging your cleaning area. As soon as you suspect an infestation, do a thorough cleaning of your pantry and the surrounding cupboards, taking a broom, vacuum, and a few hardy cleaning solutions to the shelves, walls, and floors. Why do pantry moths keep coming back? Give your pantry a thorough cleaning: Pull out your shelf liners (and wash or replace them). Use of diatomaceous earth 3. Then, keep it in the freezer for two weeks. In addition to being a writer at Forbes, she works as a freelance architectural designer specializing in residential design. An easy way to kill pantry moths is cold temperatures! Before purchasing flour, cereal, bread or pet food, scrutinize the packaging. 4. Remove egg masses using something flat to scrape the mass into a container filled with soapy water, keeping an eye on any cracks and crevasses. Like most moths, pantry moths have a four-stage life cycle that can take 6 to 8 weeks to complete under average household temperatures. Under canned goods, theyve even been found under canned good wrappers! The products and services we review may not be right for your individual circumstances. A surefire way to kill current pantry moths and prevent future breeding is to store as many grain and nut products as you can in your fridge or freezer. Consider moving the whole grains and beans to your freezer, where the pantry moth can't get to them. We earn a commission from partner links on Forbes Home. Pantry moths and other household pests frequently build cocoons or lay eggs where the corners and edges lift over time. If you notice an infestation of pantry moths, take all of the contaminated food that you think is contaminated and toss it away. Spraying cupboards, particularly the edges and corners of shelves with provide lasting protection from the larvae. Step 2. Time is of the essence, because the larvae can . Here are the Best Ways to Get Rid of Moths 1. Remember, the larvae need to eat, so if the food is gone, theyll die. This method is also effective in getting rid of any moth eggs on the siding of your home. We'll be happy to provide a free inspection and let you . Most pantry moth infestations dont actually begin in your home but at commercial food processing and packaging facilities. Step 3 - Apply Pro-Pest Pantry Moth Traps Next, it is time to lure adult pantry pests out hiding with glue traps. 3. As well, ironing helps to kill moth eggs and larvae. Getty. 3) Clean all food cupboards. Dont store anything in your pantry that isnt in hard plastic or glass containers. Then throw out the vacuum bag right away or empty the dust cup outside and wash it thoroughly, as it may contain eggs. Remember that youre pursuing the pantry moths themselves, but also their larvae. Empty out the affected areacompletely. Bad news: they are extremely damaging to your pantry food, leading to a lot of contamination and waste. Be sure to rid your home of any full-grown moths as well so they dont continue to lay eggs and exacerbate the issue. If youre not willing to get rid of everything, you need to inspect all of your food with a fine-tooth comb, or put questionable items in your freezer for at least four days to kill everything. (The pantry moths can lay eggs under the lip of . Freezing. By the time you see an actual moth, the pantry moth has gone through its full lifecycle, and has likely done this while burrowed in food you keep in your pantry. Thankfully, pantry moths are not harmful to people! Once wiped down, vacuum the area thoroughly. Anything you suspect of being infested should be discarded immediately, preferably in an outdoor trash can. And just to be on the safe side, why not bleach your mop head? How Traps Work. Nip the pantry moth problem in the bud by getting rid of all pantry items and thoroughly cleaning your entire pantry. The truly bad news about these pests is that they can be very difficult to eradicate, especially if they have completed their life cycle and dispersed throughout your pantry. Now you are going to clean like you've never cleaned before. This will kill the larvae quickly. Copyright 2022 Acton Media Inc. All rights reserved. While we work hard to provide accurate and up to date information that we think you will find relevant, Forbes Home does not and cannot guarantee that any information provided is complete and makes no representations or warranties in connection thereto, nor to the accuracy or applicability thereof. Add a few drops of essential oil such as peppermint, citronella, tea tree or eucalyptus. A trained exterminator will be able to diagnose and resolve the problem by identifying and implement a plan to eliminate the pest and create a plan to prevent future issues with pantry bugs. If you're wondering how to get rid of pantry moths, then stop wasting your time and money. Store dry goods in plastic or glass containers with air-tight seals. Please see our. Deep freeze, ideally for a week, but at least 72 hours. This meal moth is very common in the United States, and they stand out from other moths due to their love for stored foods typically found in the cupboard or pantry. Use Bay Leaves. How Much Does A Home Security System Cost. If youve ever opened your pantry and had little moths flying into your face youve probably got a pantry month infestation. Pantry Moth Glue Traps 3. Some people even store grains in the freezer to ensure youre not brining in new pantry moth infestations. However, due to the lifecycle of the pantry moth and the intricate spots larvae can get in, you be dealing with the problem for a while. Rinse with a mixture of water, vinegar, and peppermint oil to kill eggs and repel moths. When youre finished wiping everything down, add some bay leaves to the area (another known pantry moth repellent). Wash Containers Before Filling With New Food. Take a wet, soapy cloth and thoroughly wipe down every square inch of your pantry and cupboards. Use this and a combination of dish soap, or other sanitizers to wash, scrub, and sanitize your pantry. The first sign of a pantry moth infestation is often the sight of adult moths flying in an erratic . Also, consider storing your grains in mason jars or other tight-sealing containers. (Image credit: Apartment Therapy) My exterminator hero told me to check all my grains pasta, snacks, flours and food products like spices for signs of larvae, which are visible to the human eye (I'm going to spare you those pics, but you can Google it if you're feeling strong). You can buy pre-made sticky traps at the hardware store or make them yourself using tape and moth-attracting fish oil. Replace them from time to time, so they remain effective. Placing them in your kitchen trash will only spread the problem. Dealing with a pantry moth infestation or any kind of pest control related problem can be very frustrating. Also,. Place the garbage bag next to your trash can and place in right before your trash is picked up. Find licensed pest control experts in your area and get free, no-commitment estimates for your project. Placing dried bay leaves in your containers and throughout your pantry is a great way to prevent these pests from infesting your food products. Fortunately, there are home remedies are just as effective at controlling pantry moths as chemical insecticides and are safer to use around food. How To Get Rid of Moths 1. Act fast before they eat through (and lay eggs on) the stored food in your cabinets or pantry. What Attracts Pantry Moths Pantry moths are attracted to food that is high in carbohydrates and sugars. Ways to get rid of moths in the closet. 3: Find the source. When you catch the creepy-crawlies, throw the whole strip out. A pantry is where food is stored and is the most common place for brown house moths to infest. Look for signs of eggs or small holes to indicate larvae that have chewed through the packaging. Often times, people are able to catch the moths themselves, but they have trouble finding every single egg, which is where parascitic wasps come in! By everything, we meanabsolutely everything! (Removing shelves, if possible, makes vacuuming easier.) Since they typically originate from packaging plants, the most important step you can take to prevent pantry moths is to inspect your packages at the store prior to buying. So you will likely get rid of most of your male moths which can stop any further breeding. Inspect all food in your pantry for signs of infestation: Look for pantry moth larvae in and on food packaging. First, completely vacuum out any debris in your pantry. After all, its easier to clean a single cabinet than it is clean every cabinet with food inside. Make sure you thoroughly check and wash . Wipe down all pantry shelves with hot soapy water or vinegar. Include doors and walls, paying special attention to the undersides of drawers and shelves that are often neglected. Finish by mopping the floor with the same 50-50 mixture. Shelf liners: Pull out all of them and either wash or replace. Hilton Head Exterminatorscan handle your problem, but we need your help. 2) Traps. The recommended steps for freezing your clothes to kill moth larvae and eggs are: Identify and isolate the infested clothing items. It will kill any larvae that might be present in the foods that you bring home from the store, so you dont introduce them to your pantry. Empty the pantry and inspect its contents. Wipe down the pantry with vinegar, warm water, and peppermint oil. Nothing is safe. Replace any traction-grip or paint that may have begun to rot or corrode. While youre wiping everything down, its a good idea to use a pantry moth trap to attract the remaining pantry moths who have been displaced during your cleaning binge. HOW IT WORKS - This Ultrasonic Moth Repellent works on a biological level by sending out ultrasonic waves to send pantry moths and other . The Forbes Home editorial team is independent and objective. Toss infested or suspect items in a sealed trash bag and take it out immediately. Place the trap at the opposite end of the room as your pantry, as you dont want to attract anything new to your clean pantry. Samantha is an editor who covers all topics home-related including home improvement and repair. Pantry moths lay their eggs on stored foods and grains. In fact, it is estimated that over 75% of pantry moth infestations are the result of an insect accidentally stowed in a shipment of food. Checking for cocoons is also important as they often build them in the cracks and crevices of your pantry. And definitely throw away any boxes or bags found to have any holes that you didnt make. The best way to avoid pantry moths is to store your food the right way in the first place. Then wipe down your trash can with the vinegar solution. Theyre prevalent in the U.S. and are particularly common in warmer climates. Use of Bacillus thuringiensis insecticide 4. Larvae may be tucked into the edges of cans, on spice jars, or even on unopened packages! Check under the lids of jars for eggs or cocoons. They are known by several common names including pantry moth, Indian meal moth, flour moth, weevil moth, and grain moth. However they contaminate your food and when this occurs all affected food should be immediately discarded. PRODUCT INFORMATION WHILE OTHER MOTH REPELLENTS are not pet-friendly, don't really work and smell bad, the Pest Destruct Ultrasonic Moth Repeller works silently for the human ear, does not smell, perfectly eliminates moths. If you have thrown anything away in your kitchen trash can, double bag the items and take them to your outdoor can. Store Your Food Properly. {{ tocState.toggleTocShowMore ? 1) Moth Traps Moth traps are an easy, inexpensive solution. They may seem like tricky little critters hiding away in your cabinets and amongst your dried goods, but with some elbow grease and a few simple steps they can be quite easy to get rid of. By doing this, if you inadvertently bring contaminated food home from the market that contains larvae, the moths will not be able to eat through the jar when they hatch. Other sticky fly strips will also work but are less effective as they dont have anything to attract the moths to them.
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