6 Tips for preventing food pests

Moths can enter your home in search of food, but most often they appear through food that has already been infested.

These insects feed on stored food – especially cereals, chocolate, cocoa, dried fruit, nuts and any flour product.

The adults are grey and brown in colour and measure 10-15 mm in length. The larvae are a dirty white colour with brown heads and grow up to 12-15 mm long.

The stable ambient temperature at home helps this insect to reproduce throughout the year. The female usually starts laying eggs around three days after becoming an adult and can lay around 200 to 400 eggs over a period of 1 to 18 days. When the larvae hatch, they begin to disperse rapidly.

Within a few hours they attack food and animal feed, producing a funnel-shaped web of silk and dried droppings for protection. They have a high capacity for infestation in a short space of time and can take advantage of a variety of foods that are very common in cupboards at home. 

Moths can get into very tightly sealed places, including bags and tupperware containers.

66 Tips to prevent a moth infestation:

• Clean out the pantry – Remove everything, including kitchen equipment that you have stored there to give it a thorough clean;

• Throw out infested and contaminated food – Any food that has clear signs of contamination should be discarded, i.e. packets in which you find moths and even other dry goods that have been opened. Moth eggs are hard to see, so it’s best to be cautious and throw away anything that’s open;

• Remove and clean all shelves – Vacuum the shelves and wipe with a damp cloth and appropriate disinfectant;

• Vacuum all cupboards and the pantry – You should also vacuum the walls, skirting boards and corners of the furniture. This will remove any moths and cocoons that haven’t been spotted;

• Take the rubbish and contaminated food out of the house – This is so that the moths don’t come back;

• Store new food in airtight containers – Use plastic, metal or glass containers. This prevents moths from spreading to other foods if you buy products that have already been contaminated.

Using a pest control service, whether in your home or business, is the most effective way of eliminating unwanted pests!

We carry out a free diagnosis of any infestation situation and come up with the best solution for each case.

Go to the Contacts page and make your enquiry.