Grain beetles are tiny, destructive pests commonly found in pantries. The brown-colored bugs feed on stored grains and seeds, including crackers, flour, cereal, cookies, bread, and pasta. They can contaminate large quantities of stored food products. Contact a Collin County pest control company immediately if you discover a grain beetle infestation within your home.
What Is A Grain Beetle?
The grain beetle is a common pantry invader about 1/10 of an inch long. The insect can crawl or fly around, searching for grains to feast on and a place to lay eggs. To correctly identify the pest, here are common characteristics that separate the pantry pest beetle from other invasive species are:
- Tiny bugs about 2 to 3 mm long
- Have flat, reddish-brown to black color bodies
- Have wings and can fly
- Their larvae are tiny, whitish, grub-like bugs with brown heads
There are two different types of grain beetles: merchant grain beetles and saw-toothed grain beetles. Merchant grain beetles have clubbed antennae that look like the paddles on boats, with a more triangular-shaped head. Saw-toothed grain beetles have a rectangular-shaped head with teeth-like projections on the thorax.
If you are unsure if the bugs in your Collin County home are grain beetle, call pantry pest control professionals to assist you with accurate identification.
Why Do Grain Beetles Like Living In The Pantry?
A pantry is a common target for grain beetles to invade. The room provides a steady food supply for the pantry pest larvae and the adults. These insects feed on stored flour, cereal, pasta, and dry pet food.
Additionally, most pantries have dark and warm sections that offer excellent breeding grounds for the grain beetle. Adult females lay eggs in and around food products, where they hatch in 3-4 days. The larvae cause the most damage, burrowing into softer packaging to access the meal products.
Six Tips To Get Rid Of Grain Beetles
Once you confirm grain beetle activity in your pantry, you need to act fast to prevent the infestation from getting out of hand. Here are six practical tips for effective pantry pest control.
- Find the Source: Identifying the source of infestation is the first step to getting rid of the grain beetle. Discard food packages with holes, brownish bugs, and rice-like eggs. Inspect other rooms such as basements, kitchens, and attics for infestations.
- Clean Up Your Pantry: Remove all founds from your pantry and vacuum all shelves, drawers, and cabinets to pick up any eggs. Throw away the vacuum bug contents. Pay attention to any cracks or crevices.
- Use Bug Sprays: A pantry pest spray with a potent insecticide can help kill the beetles. You shouldn’t spray any food products, cooking equipment, or dishes that may come into contact with food. It would be best to leave the chemical treatments to professional pest control experts.
- Set Up Pantry Beetle Traps: You can also buy bug traps to capture the beetles. Commercial bait traps use pheromone-scented glue that lures the insects. Ensure that the traps are out of your kids’ and pets’ reach.
- Inspect Packaged Food Products You Buy: Grain beetles are hitchhikers and will come into your home through packaged food boxes. Always inspect your store purchases and transfer the contents to glass or plastic containers with air-tight lids.
- Place Bug Screens on Your Windows and Doors: The grain beetle can also get to your pantry through windows and doors. Installing or repairing torn screens around your home can help keep your pantry beetle-free.
Total Grain Beetle Control For Collin County Homes
The most effective way to eliminate the grain beetle infestation is to hire professional pest control experts. Our experts at Adams Exterminating Company can assist in accurately identifying the bugs before recommending safe and effective treatments to eliminate the bugs.
We also establish a prevention home pest control plan to keep the bugs from infesting your pantry again. Contact us today to discuss our grain beetle control programs for Collin County residents.