Pantry pests: moths, weevils and beetles in your food
Published Updated
By John Stopka, Co-Founder & CEO · Reviewed by John Stopka
Small moths fluttering in the kitchen at night, webbing in a box of cereal, or tiny beetles in the flour are pantry pests. The usual ones are the Indian meal moth, rice and granary weevils, flour beetles and cigarette beetles. They almost always come in with food and then spread from package to package. Getting rid of them means finding every infested item, throwing it out, cleaning the shelves and storing what is left in sealed containers.
Which pantry pest is it?
| Pest | Looks like | Usually found in |
|---|---|---|
| Indian meal moth | small moth, about 1/2 inch across the wings; outer half of the wings coppery, inner half pale gray | cereal, flour, nuts, dried fruit, pet food, bird seed; webbing and small caterpillars |
| Rice and granary weevils | tiny dark beetles with a long snout | whole grains: rice, corn, wheat, popcorn |
| Flour beetles | small, flat, reddish-brown | flour, cake and baking mixes, cereal |
| Sawtoothed grain beetle | small, slender, brown, with saw-like edges behind the head | cereal, dried fruit, pasta, crackers |
| Cigarette and drugstore beetles | small, round, humped, reddish-brown | spices, paprika and chili powder, dried herbs, pet food |
Pantry moths
The Indian meal moth is the pantry pest people see most. The adult moths flutter in a zigzag near the ceiling or around lights in the evening, but they are not what does the damage — the caterpillars are. The larvae feed inside packages and leave silk webbing, clumped food and droppings behind, then wander up walls and across ceilings to spin a cocoon in a corner or crack. Seeing caterpillars on the ceiling means the source is somewhere in the cupboards below.
Weevils in flour and rice
True weevils — the rice and granary weevils, with their long snouts — develop inside whole kernels of grain, so they are found in rice, corn, popcorn and whole wheat rather than in finely ground flour. Small reddish-brown beetles in flour are usually flour beetles, which people often call weevils too. Either way, the grain they are in has to go.
What are spider beetles?
Tiny, round, reddish-brown or shiny beetles with long legs and a humped back, so they look more like small spiders or mites than beetles. They feed on a wide range of dry foods — grains, dried fruit, spices, pet food, seeds — and also on dead insects and debris in wall voids and attics, and they tolerate cool temperatures, so they often turn up in fall and winter. The approach is the same as for other pantry pests: find the source, discard it and clean the shelves.
Where do pantry pests come from?
Almost always from food that came into the house already infested — a bag of flour, a box of cereal, dried fruit, pet food or bird seed, sometimes packaged decorations like dried flowers or seed art. From there they spread to anything open nearby, and some can chew through thin paper and cardboard. It does not mean the kitchen is dirty.
How do you get rid of pantry pests?
It is a cleanup job, done thoroughly:
- Empty the cupboard and check every package — flour, cereal, rice, pasta, nuts, dried fruit, spices, pet food and bird seed — including unopened ones.
- Throw out anything infested in a sealed bag, outside.
- Vacuum the shelves, the corners and the cracks, and wipe them down. Check the ceiling and walls near the cupboard for moth cocoons.
- Store food in sealed containers of glass, metal or heavy plastic with tight lids.
- Keep an eye out for a few weeks; one missed package starts it all again.
Freezing new flour or grain for a few days when you bring it home is a common precaution. Pesticides do not belong on food shelves; the cleanup is the treatment.
How does Liberty handle pantry pests?
Liberty treats pantry pests, alongside the everyday pests our pest control plans cover. The work starts with finding which pest it is and every place it is feeding, because one missed package keeps the problem going. Text us about what you are finding, or book a free inspection.
When to call a professional
Call when moths or beetles keep reappearing after you have cleared the cupboards, when you cannot find the source, or when they are showing up in more than one room.
Common questions
What are the little moths in my kitchen?
Usually Indian meal moths — small moths with coppery outer wings, fluttering near the ceiling at night. Their caterpillars live in stored food such as cereal, flour, nuts and pet food.
Where do pantry moths come from?
From food brought home already infested, such as flour, cereal, dried fruit, pet food or bird seed. They then spread to other open packages.
What are the bugs in my flour?
Usually flour beetles, small and reddish-brown. True weevils, with long snouts, are found in whole grains such as rice and popcorn.
How do you get rid of pantry moths?
Check every package, throw out anything infested, vacuum and wipe the shelves, and store food in sealed containers. Watch for a few weeks for anything missed.
Does Liberty treat pantry pests?
Yes. Liberty treats pantry pests, starting by finding which pest it is and everywhere it is feeding.
Sources
- University of Kentucky Entomology. Michael F. Potter. "How to Pest-Proof Your Home" (ENTFACT-641). https://entomology.mgcafe.uky.edu/ef641 (opens in a new tab)