Finding pests in Plano, Texas can be upsetting. While all pests can be difficult to deal with, there is something especially gross about encountering pests in food products. If you’re going through your pantry and come across insects near your food, you’re probably going to be stressed and grossed out.
The sawtooth grain beetle is one pest that commonly gets into dry-goods. This pantry pest is a frequent problem for Plano property owners and gets into a wide range of grain-based items.
The first step in dealing with sawtoothed grain beetles is knowing what they look like. You can identify these beetles by their flat and slender brown bodies. They are on the small side at only 1/10th of an inch long, and their most defining feature is that they have six small ridges on the sides of their heads that look like a saw. This characteristic is what gives them their unique name.
How Do Sawtoothed Grain Beetles Get Into Homes?
These beetles will eat a lot of different products including cereals, birdseed, dried fruits, pet food, flour, and pasta. While they aren’t known to spread any specific diseases, it’s still important to throw out any food that they come into contact with as it is likely to be contaminated.
The sawtoothed grain beetle gets into products during production and packaging. They often live in factories, so they will infest food items before you even buy them. The most common way for an infestation to start is by buying dried goods that are already infested. Then, once inside your home, they can quickly spread to other things in your pantry or cupboards, and soon their population is bound to grow out of control.
It can be difficult to notice signs of these beetles at first. Always remember to keep an eye out for small beetles in dried goods. Occasionally, sawtoothed grain beetles will also make their way onto shelves and countertops as the infestation spreads. You should always disinfect any surfaces that these beetles come into contact with.
Preventing Sawtooth Grain Beetles
It can be difficult to completely prevent an infestation because these beetles can infest food sources before you purchase them. This means there’s not much you can do around your property to deter these pests. The best thing to do is to inspect see-through food items before you buy them, but this isn’t possible to do with all products.
You can also reduce the risk of an infestation of grain beetles spreading by:
- Throwing away infested foods immediately
- Storing all dried goods in airtight containers
- Cleaning cupboards and pantries regularly
- Sweeping and vacuuming frequently
- Reaching out to pest control professionals for more assistance and advice
The Best Way To Handle Sawtoothed Grain Beetles
If you’ve noticed these annoying pantry pests in your home or business, the most effective way to deal with them is by contacting the experts at All-Safe Pest & Termite. Our residential and commercial pest control experts will act to eradicate these nasty insects. Our team of technicians can work with you to provide ongoing assistance to handle all pantry pests.
To get started or to learn more about our professional pest control options, give us a call today or request a free estimate online.