HOW to GET RID of LESSER GRAIN BORER and PANTRY BEETLE

The pantry beetle is the smallest among the pests. The pantry beetle looks similar to a small piece of broken, thin lead pencil. The pantry beetle is dark brown to black and about less than 2 mm long. It is also shaped like a cylinder. Adult pantry beetles can live only a few months. Their jaws are strong enough to make a hole into other materials i.e. wooden crate. These pests have to feed off of stored food products, animal and human. They are found commonly in paper containers and they only form when the food is in the pantry for a long period of time without being used after open. Pantry beetles can be brought in from packaged foods bough from the store. The reason it is told not to buy opened or ripped packages is because it can be infested by pantry beetles and lesser grain borers. Warehouses or food-processing plant packaged food may already contain infestation of lesser grain borers and pantry beetles when they package it. These pests can come into the home from nearby apartments as well. Moisture attracts lesser grain borer and pantry beetles.

LESSER GRAIN BORER and PANTRY BEETLE INSPECTION

Lesser Grain Borers and Pantry Beetles can be found in flour, cereal, dry pasta, dry pet food, powdered milk, corn starch, crackers, spices, breads, bird seed, dried nuts and fruits, or any packages that has been left open a long period of time after use, storage areas, and pantry areas, kitchen cabinets. The first sign of lesser grain borers and pantry beetles infestation are the appearance of small moths flying around or the presence of a beetle in or near the food package.

LESSER GRAIN BORER and PANTRY BEETLE CONTROL METHODS

Prevention:
There are certain procedures that you can take to help prevent further infestation:

Place exposed foods in containers with tight-fitting lids
Occasionally clean shelves
DO NOT mix OLD foods with the NEW ones, because if the old foods are infested then the new ones would be infested as quickly.
If you are not sure whether or not the foods are infested, place them in plastic bags to see if any emerge.
If they emerge, dispose the food and keep the others in a plastic bag for about a month to see if other emerges.
Make sure to clean your containers so the food would not have another chance of infestation by other pests.
Since moisture attracts these pests, make sure your foods are kept dry in the pantry.
Remove any nests found near your home because lesser grain borers and pantry beetles might breed in the nests of rodents and insects that might migrate from the nests into your home.
These pests are cold-blooded, so you can freeze your food as well.

Crack and Crevice Treatment:
This treatment is to be used in cracks and crevice and even voids in your home where beetles might enter or live. This treatment can be used with liquid spray (MASTERLINE BIFENTHRIN 7.9, DEMON WP, CYPER WP, CYNOFF WP, SUSPEND SC), dust (PYGANIC DUST), or aerosol (ALPINE AEROSOL , V ONE PYRETHRUM, CY-KICK AEROSOL). While using a liquid spray, we suggest that you use a hand gallon sprayer (CHAPIN 1 GALLON SPRAYER). For liquid spray (MASTERLINE BIFENTHRIN 7.9, DEMON WP, CYPER WP, CYNOFF WP, SUSPEND SC), you will use the amount instructed on the product label, you will just a pinpoint nozzle from a hand gallon sprayer (CHAPIN 1 GALLON SPRAYER) and spray into the cracks and crevices for long lasting effect. You will have to spray around door frames, window frames, window sills, cracks on the moldings in the walls, walls, cabinets and pantries, and anywhere that has a crack and crevice and the beetles might become through. In a crack and crevice using dust (PYGANIC DUST), we suggest that you use a duster (BELLOW BULB DUSTER, CENTROBULB DUSTER) with an extension tip. Using the suggested amount instructed on the product label on the dust (PYGANIC DUST ), fill the duster halfway with the dust and apply the dust into cracks and crevices. DO NOT OVERUSE DUST. Do not apply dust where children or pets may touch. Using an aerosol product (ALPINE AEROSOL , V ONE PYRETHRUM, CY-KICK AEROSOL) for a crack and crevice treatment, apply the suggested amounts using a straw attached to crack and crevices in cabinets and pantries, wall voids, around window and door frames. Applications can be made, but are not limited to, behind baseboards, cupboards, shelving and storage areas. Remove all food contents, utensils, shelf paper, and other objects before spraying. Allow all treated surfaces to dry and cover shelves with clean paper prior to replacing food contents, utensils, or other items. Any food contents accidentally contaminated with any solutions should be discarded.