COOKIES, CAKES, PIES AND INDIAN MEAL MOTHS?!

With the holiday season in full swing you are likely breaking out the old holiday favorites. Cookies, cakes and pies are often an essential part of each family’s holiday traditions. But what about when Indian meal moths or other pantry pests get tossed into the mix? It’s less appetizing than the fruitcake, that’s for sure!

What are Indian Meal Moths?

Indian meal moths are just one of the many types of pantry pests that may be currently infesting your pantry foods, which include flour, cereal, grains, dried fruits, and even pet food. What happens is that usually during the processing of the foods, an adult Indian meal moth (or other species of pantry pest) will lay their eggs into the grains or foods just in time for them to be packaged, sealed and shipped off to your local grocery store.

As the eggs hatch, the larvae will begin to eat the grains and foods they are packaged with. So when you go to open the package and sift the flour, you may find that there is a lot more than just flour in the package! This is not a good way to kick off your holiday baking so it is important to learn a few tips from the pest prevention experts at Viking Pest Control to prevent pantry pests this holiday season.

• Foods that sit longer on shelves like many bulk foods are more prone to having pantry pests. Opt for smaller quantities of things that you do not use often.
• Go through your food pantry and kitchen cupboards to dispose of any items that are past their shelf life.
• When at the grocery store, avoid purchasing any items in a damaged package, as items with holes or tears are more prone to pantry pest infestations.
• Inspect all of the foods before you toss them into the cake batter or pie filling.

If you do find any evidence of pantry pests, you will need to dispose of the infested food items. To control and eliminate any and all pest activity call in the professionals at Viking Pest Control.  We offer safe and effective home pest control services in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, and the Eastern Shore of Maryland. To learn more about getting rid of pantry pests this holiday season or for more information on the year-round coverage offered with our Home Protection Plans, please contact us today!