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There are many insects that can infest food stored in the home. Some of the more common ones are the flour beetles, drugstore beetles, cigarette beetles, booklice, carpet beetles, sawtoothed grain beetles, and their near relatives, the merchant grain beetles. Also common are the larvae of the Indian meal moth, Mediterranean flour moth and the granary and rice weevils. One thing they nearly all have in common is their small size. This makes them easily overlooked until they have built up a considerable population. Their smallness also makes them troublesome to control unless care is taken to be absolutely thorough in cleaning up all spilled food - not neglecting cupboard and drawer cracks! A bit of cookie or pet food in a cupboard crack can nicely feed a small insect family.
For more information and images of the common "cupboard bugs" see PLS-10, "Cupboard Beetles".
Cupboard pests can infest a wide variety of foodstuffs such as: flour, sugar, cereals, bread, spices, drugs, candy, nuts, dried fruit, and pet food. They are also capable of eating through paper, plastic wrappings, and aluminum foil packaging. The varied appetite of these insects coupled with their ability to eat through packages require periodic and thorough inspection of all stored food and a thorough cleaning in order to control them. After inspection, place uninfested foods in glass, tin, or plastic containers with tight fitting lids to prevent further infestation.
Occasionally cupboard pests seem to come from areas other than the kitchen. Check these areas for possible food items such as: dried flower arrangements, gingerbread or dough ornaments, seed art, pine cones, apple dolls, a candy bar tucked in a dresser drawer, or perhaps an old cookie dropped behind furniture. Other possible sources include bird nests in attics or pet food carried to wall voids by rodents.
The most common way these insects get into your home is in already infested foods or items. Care should be taken to inspect all packages for breaks before buying, since almost all dry packaged foods are subject to infestation. Be especially cautious about organic foods which have not been treated and pet foods. If you should discover a recently bought, infested package of food, return it to the store or destroy it.
Apartment dwellers may have a more difficult time of locating the source or controlling the infestation if it originates in another apartment. These small insects can move through wall voids between apartments. Caulking crevices around sink pipes which connect kitchens may help. If many residents are having problems it may be necessary to attack the problem as a group with thorough cleanup and apartment-wide treatment by a pest control operator.
If you do not wish to destroy lightly infested flour or food products, you can treat by:
Heating: Heat oven to 140°. Put flour or food in shallow pan and place in oven for 30 minutes. This process will destroy the insects and will also destroy the grains germinating ability.
Freezing: Place small packages in freezer at 0° or below for a minimum of four days. Leave larger packages for at least seven days. This process may cause excessive moisture in the product if it is defrosted in a humid room.
If you choose to eat infested food it can be sifted to remove most insect fragments. These fragments are not poisonous. However, some studies indicate that insect parts or pieces may cause irritation of the digestive system. If irritation does occur then it is probably best to throw away the food.
For more information contact your local WSU Extension Office.
