Eliminating, Preventing Beetles, Weevils, Moths

There are numerous pests you may bring home from the super market. In addition to roaches, there are beetles, weevils and moths. Many items contain the eggs of these insects. Cereal, pasta, pet food, birdseed, dried beans, granola, cookies, crackers, rat and mouse baits, chocolate, spices, cake mix and even dried flower arrangements or decorative corn are just a few. If the foodstuff is kept for some time, the eggs may hatch and go through their cycle before you know a problem exists. To control an active infestation, follow these steps:

If you have BEETLES, WEEVILS or MOTHS: Empty all cabinets, drawers and pantries where there is evidence of insects. Try to identify which foodstuff is infested. Throw away any container suspected of being a source. If you are unsure and want to save something which may be infested, place it in Tupperware or zip lock bags. Inspect it a week or two later to see if there is activity or not. You can also freeze food (in a baggy) for 5-10 days to kill any possible pests. Be careful to inspect cans as these pests love to nest on the bottom around the can’s rim. The lids of jars or bottles also provide excellent nest sites.

Now treat with a professional aerosol that has a crack and crevice tip. We suggest using CB-Invader. Treat all cracks and crevices using the plastic infection tip. You must make sure to get all sides, tops, corners and backs of doors around their hinges. This treatment will kill the adult stages but some eggs and pupae will survive. When eliminating Cigarette beetles, spraying with a solution of Precor IGR (in addition to crack and crevice work) has given excellent results in reducing the beetle population. For other stored product pests (beetles, weevils, etc.,) Gentrol or Gentrol Point Source will help prevent immature pests from maturing into reproducing adults. The use of an IGR hastens the pest elimination and prevents re-infestation. For persistent pests such as beetles or weevils, two or three sprayings with CB-Invader over several weeks may be required, along with a treatment of Suspend SC, an odorless, long-lasting insecticide spray.

If you have INDIAN MEAL MOTHS, MEDITERRANEAN MOTHS or other flour moths/ grain moths.: Set up Moth Traps in areas where moths are flying. These traps are helpful because they will catch the adult stages of any grain moth as they hatch from their pupae cocoons. The trap has a strong sex pheromone which these pantry moths cannot resist. They will fly to the trap and get stuck on the glue inside. Once trapped, they cannot mate and reproduce. Place Moth Traps in areas where moths are flying. These traps are helpful because they will catch the adult stages of any moth as they hatch from their pupae cocoons. The trap has a strong sex pheromone which these pantry moths cannot resist. They will fly to the trap and get stuck on the glue inside. Once trapped, they cannot mate and reproduce.

Pantry pests are common in many households. Although a nuisance, you may successfully control most problems by following the steps above. For beetles or weevils, follow steps one and two. If some type of flour moth is the pest, follow steps one, two and three. Expect to see some occasional adults for a few weeks following the initial treatment. Once all the pupae have hatched, the cycle will be broken and you should be bug free!!

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Eliminating, Preventing Beetles, Weevils, Moths