Garden Column for the Salisbury Post

Darrell Blackwelder

November 3, 2005

      Along with gardening questions, I also receive many household insect questions, especially with kitchen insects. Kitchen pests seem to be problem in the fall especially when the holidays are just around the corner with increased baking. Cooks are already complaining about insects in the kitchen and in the cabinets or on the ceiling. After a bit of investigation, many discover bags or boxes of baked goods are infested with small insects.    

     The Indian meal moth is the most common pest found in stored grits, flour and other baked goods. There are many other pantry pests, but this is the most common insect in Rowan County. The larvae are pinkish-white in color with brownish head capsules. The larvae spin silk webbing over the surface of their food. The adults are small moths with coppery-colored wings. As the larvae finish their development, they often crawl from their food source and onto walls and ceilings.
     Signs of an infestation will be larvae or webbing on surface of infested material. The larvae may also be in crevices along walls, ceilings, or cupboards.  The tale tail sign is adults flying about the room. There are a number of stored product pests that find their way into items stored on our kitchen or pantry shelves, and it is often difficult, if not impossible, to tell when the item becomes infested. Just because a box "looks" sealed does not mean that insects have not their way inside anytime before packaging, during storage in a warehouse, retail store or even in your home. Sometimes, pests show up in places other than a pantry. Regardless of where you find them, the key to solving the problem is to locate the source of the infestation.

If you have pantry pests, follow these tips:

 

  • Discard infested materials. Items which do not appear to be infested, but you think may contain eggs that have not yet hatched can be placed in a freezer for 4-5 days.
  • Thoroughly clean storage areas, particularly the corners and edges of shelves
  • Store uninfested items in sealable containers or in the refrigerator.                                       
  • Always use up your oldest materials before opening new packages.

 Pesticide applications to storage areas are not necessary if you clean the area thoroughly. Visit the web site NC State University web site at http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/ent/notes/Urban/pantry.htm for more information about stored food pests.

Darrell Blackwelder is an agricultural agent in charge of horticulture with the North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service in Rowan County. For archived garden columns or other information, visit the Rowan County Master Gardener web site at www.rowanmastergardener.com , e-mail Darrell_Blackwelder@ncsu.edu