How Do Pantry Moths Get Into Sealed Containers

The moths can even get into factory sealed plastic.

How do pantry moths get into sealed containers. Keep small bags of spices in the refrigerator or freezer. Pull out the drawers ive found many cocoons right in the slider mechanisms. The indian meal moth. Pantry pests in sealed containers asked september 13 2016 153 pm edt for more than 30 years ive fended off moths in the pantry by storing everything cereal flour nuts dried fruit grains legumes in sealed containers most commonly mason jars with the white screw on lids you can get at the grocery.

If a product is infested the larvae wont be able to escape the container to contaminate other products. Despite common belief these pests cant chew through plastic but they can get in through extremely small holes or they have been inside all along. Ensure you get right into the corner joins and seals of the cupboard because you will often find larvae and cocoons hiding there says dean. Throw out infested products and put everything else into sealed plastic containers.

Now resolve to store all pantry edibles in sealed glass or metal containers as soon as you bring the food products into your home. They also enter the packages by eating up the nylon or paper covers of the packages or the containers. Place the remaining items in airtight containers and freeze them for one week to kill any eggs. Inspect each food item for insects and discard infested packages into a garbage bag.

Pantry moth eggs have even been found on the underside of peanut butter jar lids. Open or poorly sealed containers. They also love the cardboard boxes that cereal and mixes come in. Pantry moths can get into sealed packages just in the same way they enter into tightly covered containers.

I had moth damage inside of anything that isnt properly sealed in a thick glass or plastic container. They enter into these packages by coming as eggs inside the food in the packages. Pantry moths can fly into open cereal boxes bags of flour and other containers even if theyre closed a cereal box has seams for the moths to enter and larvae can eat through the plastic and paper covering the food. Use a cordless handheld vacuum if you have one or an attachment that will allow your regular vacuum to get into crevices.

Remove all food from the infested area and trash anything suspect in an outside garbage bin. Empty the vacuum immediately and dispose of the contents to avoid re infestation. How to get rid of moths in the house or the pantry involves first removing everything from the pantry shelving including all food items and shelf liners. Vacuum the entire area.