Stored Product Pests

What are Stored Product Pests?

Stored Product Pests are generally small beetles and moths that live and feed in grain and cereal products and are quite commonly found in the Tri-State area including Manhattan. The most common insects found in grain and cereal are:

• Saw Tooth Grain Beetles – (Oryzaephilus surinamensis). These 1/10th of an inch long, flat, slim bodied brown colored beetles get their name from the six saw-like teeth that line either side of the thorax.
• Cigarette Beetles – (Lasioderma serricorne). Light brown, 1/8th of an inch long, these beetles are hunched in appearance and have a body covered in tiny hairs but the wing covers are smooth.
• Indian Meal Moths – (Plodia interpunctella). Come from larvae generally known as waxworms. They can be found in a great many places in the world and are sometimes referred to as “Pantry Moths” and “Flour Moths”. Adult moths are under half an inch long with wingspans of around ¾ inch. The outer section of their wings can be copper, bronze, or dark gray, while the inner sections are yellowish-gray, with a dark band between them.

Why do I have stored product pests?

Stored Product Pests spend a great deal of their life living in the material they eat: flour, corn starch, crackers, dry pasta, cereal, powdered milk and breads amongst others. Although these pests can enter from nearby properties it is much more likely that they have arrived in foods that are already contaminated. Should the correct circumstances and environment be present, they can breed nearly constantly and produce a number of generations in under a year. Contrary to popular assumption the presence of stored product pests is not indicative of bad housekeeping.

Are they dangerous?

Although they are not considered dangerous, they can pose a threat due to the contamination and spoiling of food. Even if the insects of their eggs are eaten it is important to know that they are not known to carry any diseases or parasites that cause injury or illness in humans.

How do you get rid of Stored Product Pests?

Stored Product Pests are, by their very nature, adept at hiding and blending in with their chosen environment and food source. This can make them very difficult to deal with and eliminate. A pest control solution from Assured Environments is the best way to rid your property of these unwanted insects.

Can I do it myself?

Do-It-Yourself methods of eradicating Stored Product Pests are not often effective because it is not always an easy task to locate, identify and then prescribe the correct treatment. Care must always be taken when attempting Do-It-Yourself methods as they often involve chemicals which should always be used with extreme care around food and food preparation areas.

How soon can you get here?

Assured Environments are committed to being there when you need us. We will make every effort to be with you the same or very next day.

Is the treatment safe?

Every product used by Assured Environments to eliminate stored product pest infestations has undergone the most rigorous testing by the EPA and has been passed for Pest Control use. This product is then applied under the strictest guidelines by our highly trained personnel who will inform you right away if any safety precautions are required.

How can I prevent this in the future?

Ensuring you are not bothered by Stored Product Pests can be very difficult but among the best ways of preventing them is to ensure that all food storage and preparation areas are kept clean and tidy, that no open food containers are present and that all dry food products are kept in air-tight type containers.