Your Holiday Pantry Is a Target
The holiday season brings joy, family gatherings and plenty of delicious cooking. Unfortunately, it also brings increased food storage that can attract unwanted guests to your pantry. Meal moths, weevils and beetles don’t need an invitation to join your holiday preparations—they’ll invite themselves if given the chance.
Why pantry pests love the holidays
During the holiday season, most families stock up on baking essentials, specialty ingredients and bulk items. Flour, sugar, nuts, dried fruits, grains and cereals create an all-you-can-eat buffet for pantry pests. These tiny invaders can contaminate your expensive holiday ingredients and turn your festive cooking into a frustrating cleanup.
Common holiday pantry pests include:
- Indian meal moths that target flour, nuts and dried goods
- Rice weevils that infest grains and cereals
- Flour beetles that contaminate baking supplies
- Pantry beetles that feast on spices and pet food
Smart Storage = Fewer Infestations
Prevention beats extermination every time. Follow these storage techniques to keep pests out of your holiday ingredients:
Seal everything tight. Transfer opened packages into airtight containers made of glass, metal or thick plastic. Cardboard boxes and thin plastic bags won’t stop determined pests.
Check before you stock. Inspect all new purchases for signs of contamination before storing them. Look for small holes in packaging, webbing or tiny moving specks.
Rotate your stock. Use older items first and avoid letting ingredients sit for months. Fresh products attract fewer pests than stale ones.
Clean regularly. Wipe down shelves, vacuum corners and clean up spills immediately. Crumbs and residue provide easy meals for hungry pests.
Control temperature and humidity. Store ingredients in cool, dry areas. Heat and moisture create ideal breeding conditions for many pantry pests.
Spotting the signs of contamination
Even with careful prevention, pantry pests can still find their way into your holiday supplies. Watch for these warning signs:
- Small holes or tears in food packaging
- Webbing or silk-like threads in dry goods
- Tiny moving insects in flour or grains
- Clumping or unusual texture in normally loose ingredients
- Off smells from stored foods
- Small beetles or moths flying around your pantry
When pests crash your party
If you discover contaminated ingredients, act quickly to prevent the problem from spreading:
Dispose of infested items immediately. Double-bag contaminated food and remove it from your home. Don’t try to salvage partially affected products.
Deep clean your pantry. Remove everything from shelves and vacuum all cracks, corners and crevices. Wipe surfaces with soapy water and let dry completely.
Inspect neighboring items. Check all nearby products for signs of contamination, even if they look untouched.
Set traps. Pheromone traps can catch adult moths and help you monitor the situation.
Professional help protects your peace of mind–and your pantry goods
Sometimes pantry pest problems require more than DIY solutions. If you’re dealing with recurring infestations or preparing for important holiday entertaining, professional pantry pest control and elimination provides reliable protection.
At Terminix, our technicians understand how to eliminate pantry pests without contaminating your food storage areas. We use targeted treatments that protect your family’s health while solving your pest problem completely.
Don’t let uninvited guests ruin your holiday cooking. Whether you’re preparing a simple family dinner or hosting the neighborhood feast, protecting your ingredients ensures your celebrations stay memorable for all the right reasons.
Call or text us at 800-BUGS-911, or fill out a quick contact form, for a quote on comprehensive pantry pest protection. When pests show up, so do we.