If you live in Florida chances are that you are familiar with beetles, often encountering these pests in the home buy your outdoor lights at night or on a windowsill. Many Beetles are referred to as “pantry pests” or “stored-product pests” since they infest these areas and feed on stored foods
The Red Flour beetle and the Confused Flour beetle frequent pantries or cabinets where dry foods are stored. The Confused flour beetle, named because of its similarity to the Red flour beetle, is the most abundant and harmful pest at U.S. flour mills. They feed on grains, cereal, dry pet foods and other dry foods, and they can contaminate these items. They can get into packages in processing plants and can be brought into homes, breeding in the foods they infest and enlarging their populations.
Nearly every stored dry food is susceptibleto pest infestation, especially those bought in bulk and stored for long periods,in damaged containers, or those not kept in air-tight containers. The Drugstore beetle, feeds on prescription drugs, laxative teas, as well as dry foods. They are responsible for economic losses by feeding on harvested, stored grains and seeds, packaged food products, animal and plant-derivedproducts. Food that has been infested develops a foul smell and taste and cannot be sold.
Beside stored dry products, beetles can also feed on food and other items of no nutritional content, such as book bindings, tin, aluminum foil and lead sheets. They can cause irreparable damage to valuable museum exhibits and artifacts, feeding on glue or paste, furniture stuffing, and paper they contain. Some beetle species have been known to feed on poison found in insect rodent traps without harm.
Other industries are affected as well; Cigarette beetles are known to infest dried tobacco and tobacco products. Sawtoothed Grain beetles feed on a wide array of dry foods and are capable of chewing through unopened paper or cardboard boxes, cellophane, plastic, and foil wrapped packages to gain access to food. Sawtoothed grain beetles do not fly but can run quickly when disturbed.
Beetles are usually found when they leave the infested area, seeing them in your home can be a sign that an infestation has occurred. Most pantry beetles are good fliers as well. Proper sanitation is crucial in controlling these pests, beetles have the ability to find the tiniest food particle and live off of it. Stored dry foods should be kept in air-tight containers and any spills should be cleaned completely.
If you are experiencing a high amount of fly activity around your home or business contact Tomasello Pest Control and have us investigate and eliminate your pest situation.
Call us today at 561-585-2551