Are insects in your Southern Nevada pantry bugging you out? If so, Flatliners Pest Control is here to help. Let’s discuss common pantry pests in Las Vegas and how to keep them out of your food supply.
Common Las Vegas Pantry Pests
The first step to preventing a pantry infestation is identifying the most common invaders and what attracts them. The most frequently found pantry pests in the Mojave Desert include the following.
- Pantry Beetles — Red flour and sawtoothed grain beetles love to invade flour and grains.
- Indian Meal Moths — These small copper and gray moths lay eggs in food.
- Pantry Weevils — Like Indian Meal Moths, these tiny snouted beetles lay eggs inside food sources.
- Cockroaches — Among the most dreaded of pantry pests, roaches will eat just about anything, whether plant or animal.
- Earwigs — These ugly pincher bugs creep into your stored food area and munch on bread, cookies, and other flour products.
- Ants — Who doesn’t dread seeing a long line of ants marching in and out of the pantry, feasting on any crumbs they can find?
How Can I Keep Bugs Out Of My Pantry?
Now that you know what pests you will likely be dealing with in Las Vegas, the next step is knowing how to eliminate them. Here are our six favorite tips for creating your first line of defense against food storage pest infestations.
- Use Sealed Containers To Store Food
- Clean Your Pantry Regularly
- Throw Away Infested Food
- Keep A Tidy Kitchen
- Inspect Food Before Bringing It Home
- Use A Professional Pantry Exterminator
Lock Your Food Up In Containers
Choose plastic or glass containers with tight lids so pests can’t penetrate them. Invest in resealable bags, which can keep grains and cereals fresh (but make sure they are sturdy enough to prevent bugs from gnawing their way in).
Sweep Up Those Spills
Food spills and crumbs attract all kinds of bugs and even rodents. So, be sure to wipe up spills and crumbs promptly to help prevent insects from finding their way into your food storage.
Toss Gross & Suspicious Food
This should be a no-brainer. If you see anything suspicious in your food, such as little specks of discoloration that should not be there or (heaven forbid) tiny moving larvae, get rid of it right away. Don’t just throw the contaminated food into the garbage: use a sealed bag or container to contain the infestation and put it in your outside bin.
Don’t Let The Mess Fester
Keeping your kitchen spic-and-span can help prevent an infestation. Wipe down counters after every meal or snack. It’s also better to wash dishes promptly rather than letting them pile up in the sink or dishwasher.
Triple Check Groceries
Just because you bought it in a grocery store doesn’t mean your fruits, veggies, and dry goods are guaranteed pest-free. Double-check your purchases before putting things away at home. Look for damage to packaging and signs of larvae. Buying smaller quantities and using up your stock within the best-before date can help lower your risk of pantry pests.
Use A Professional Pantry Exterminator
This is especially important if you already have signs of an infestation. It’s also good practice to employ a pest control company to prevent insects from entering your home in the first place. Pantry exterminators know the most common bugs in your area and will have the tools and know-how to keep your home as pest-free as possible.
Need Help With A Pantry Infestation?
We hope you’ve found the above tips and tricks helpful. At Flatliners Pest Control, we know how frustrating it is to find creepy crawlies in your home, especially in your stored food areas. Remember, our number one priority is to keep your home or business safe from tiny invaders like roaches, pantry beetles, ants, and other Las Vegas area pests, so please don’t hesitate to call us and get you on a regular extermination schedule.