PANTRY PEST:
General information: Pantry pests
Damage by Pantry pests
Recommended
Control Measures for Pantry Pests: Moths and Beetles
Confused Flour Beetle and Red Flour Beetles
Cigarette and Drugstore Beetles
Sawtoothed Grain Beetle and Merchant Grain Beetles
Mediterranean Flour Moth
Indian Meal Moth
Identification:
Differences Between Beetles and Moths
FABRIC PEST:
General information:
Fabric pests:Moths and Beetles
Recommended Control Measures for Fabric Pests: Moths and Beetles
Casemaking Clothes Moth
Webbing Clothes Moth
Black
Carpet Beetles:
Furniture
Carpet Beetles:
Varied Carpet Beetles:
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Saw-tooth and Merchant Grain Beetles
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Saw tooth Grain Beetle
The saw-toothed grain beetle and the
merchant grain beetle are slender, flat, brown beetles that
are about 1/10 inch long.
Both beetles are similar in appearance, with
six saw-like tooth projections on each side of the thorax (section between head and abdomen).
The saw tooth beetle is found in warmer climates and does not fly. The merchant grain beetle flies.
The saw-toothed grain beetle has smaller
eyes than the merchant grain beetle an
a much larger area just behind the eyes.
In
both larval and adult stages, these beetles feed on all food of plant origin, especially grain and grain products like flours, meals, cereals,
dried meats,
breakfast foods, stock and poultry feeds, coconut, nut meats, candies, and dried fruit; it is not uncommon to find these beetles infesting
pet food, bird seed, and rodent bait.
They are small enough to very easily penetrate tiny cracks and crevices in packages food products.
The biology of both beetles is nearly identical and they are managed in the same
manner so that it is not necessary to distinguish the two species.
The adult beetles live an average of 6 to 10 months,
but some individuals may live as long as 3 years.
The female beetle of both species drops her eggs loosely among the foodstuffs or
tucks them away in a crevice in a kernel of grain.
Eggs are laid either singly or in small masses in crevices in the food supply, or may be laid freely in items such as flour or cereal.
When the small, slender, white eggs hatch, the emerging larvae crawl and feed on the food stuff.
The larva nibble on finely divided food particles, it cannot feed on large particles such as whole grains.
They become full grown in about 2 weeks during summer weather and then construct delicate cocoon-like coverings by
joining together small grains or fragments of foodstuffs with a sticky secretion.
Within this cell, the larva changes to the pupal stage.
Development from egg to adult may take from 3 to 4weeks in summer.
RECOMMENDED
PRODUCTS: BEETLES:
PERMA-DUST
a residual aerosol ,with a crack and crevice tip , sprayed in
the cracks and crevices, to kill the adult beetles .
You will need 2-4 treatments spaced about 3 weeks apart, due
to the nature of their cycles.
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Although larva and adults may be easily killed, eggs and pupa
are not, a complete vacuuming is important.
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Vacuuming may be used to remove debris such as animal hair
and lint that serves as a food source for black carpet beetles.
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Do not use any insecticide on surfaces where food is eaten,
prepared, or stored, or on food itself.
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A good residual for broad area coverages such as wool rugs
would be:
DEMAND
SC
Use one gallon of finished product per 1,000 sq. ft. to
allow for proper penetration.
Retreat at least two more times, at intervals of 3 weeks.
When spraying rugs or area rugs it would be advisable to
spray underneath the underside of the rugs a couple feet
or the entire underside.
Although larva and adults may be easily killed, eggs and
pupa are not, a complete vacuuming is important.
- The first thing needed to done is the elimination of the
source of infestation.
You should make a thorough inspection of infested premises
to find all sources of infestation
- In private residences the pantry pest such as the Indian
meal moth is usually brought in products from the grocery
stores. It is usually just in one area, but can spill
over into other areas.
Prevention and Sanitation:
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Place exposed food in containers with tight-fitting lids
.
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Periodic cleaning of the shelves helps to prevent infestation
of stored food products by pantry pests.
Certain pantry pests need only small amounts of food to
live and breed.
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Some infestations of packaged food originate in the food-processing
plant or warehouse.
Broken packages should not be purchased, or should be
exchanged for unbroken packages when discovered, for the
chance of these being infested is greater than for perfectly
sealed ones.
- Do
not mix old and new lots of foodstuffs.
If the old material is infested, the pest will quickly
invade the new.
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If you are unsure about an item being infested, place
it in a plastic bag where you will be able to catch anything
that emerges.
If you find the pantry pest accumulating in the bag, you
know the foodstuff is contaminated and needs to be discarded.
To insure any item is pest free, store it in these clear
bags for at least a month. Sometimes it takes even longer
for the adults to emerge.
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Infestations are most likely to occur in packages that
have been opened for the removal of a portion of the contents
and then left unsealed for long periods.
Some of the pests may find their way into other food packages,
but even those in a single package may become so numerous
that large numbers may find their way into every suitable
material in the home, and will eventually crawl over floors,
climb up walls, and gather about windows.
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Clean old containers before filling them with fresh food.
They may be contaminated and cause a new infestation.
- Make
sure that cabinets and storage units are tight and can
be cleaned easily.
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Store bulk materials, such as pet foods, in containers
with tight-fitting lids.
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Keep storage units dry. This is important because moisture
favors the development of pantry pests; dryness discourages
them.
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Some pantry insects breed in the nests of rodents and
insects and may migrate from these into homes. Eliminate
any nests found in or near the home.
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Pantry pests can also breed in rodent baits. Be sure to
frequently check and discard infested baits.
Controlling Temperature:
When packages of food are found to be infested with
moths or beetles, either low or high temperatures may
be used to control the infestation. Insects are cold-blooded;
their body temperatures closely follow that of their
environment.
The most favorable temperature for most pantry pest
is about 80°F. Above 95°F or below 60°F, reproduction
and survival is greatly reduced.
When temperatures are lowered, insect activity decreases
until all activity stops. The quicker the drop in temperature,
the quicker the kill.
Although insects will be killed, their bodies will remain
in the food unless sieved out.
An exposure of 2 to 3 days to temperatures of 5°F or
lower kills the more susceptible stages (larvae and
adults), but eggs require longer to kill (3 weeks).
An alternative is to freeze the food for a week, remove
it from the freezer for a few days, and then refreeze
it for another week.
IF YOUR CONCERN IS FOR PEST MANAGEMENT IN A COMMERCIAL BUSINESS,PLEASE
CALL FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.-1-800-476-3368
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