Bugs in the pantry - yuck!!! (apartment, buy, organic)

[mstark]

Been living here for a yr now and we love it. However, not lovin' the bugs in the pantry! We use a pest control service every 3 mos (usually just sprays outside though). Recently discovered an infestation of small dark bugs in the pantry. All in "sealed" bags of rice, barley, dry cereal etc. Guess we'll now get sprayed indoors too. How do you avoid getting bugs in your open packages of food? Thanks for your advice!

[stuck-in-mn]

vacuum canisters, you can get them at walmarts i think

[joeyddog]

It sounds like what I had in NJ.They were tiny, round/oval, black bugs with a hard outside shell that were attracted to dry pasta. They were able to get inside unopened pasta boxes and eventually moved on to other closed boxes. I threw everything out, wiped down the surfaces- never needed to call in an exterminator. My friend had let it go too long and did have to call in an exterminator who needed to spray 3 times to control the situation. They were gross

[loves2read]

do you think those bugs might actually come IN the pkg--like from the store or the distributor
there are lots of issues with mfg not keeping product lines clean that it might not just be YOUR situation

[Honeycrisp]

I would think refrigerating food such as rice and pasta would help prevent it too, of course it's just not practical sometimes given that there's not much available space in the refrigerator.

[coastal chic]

Any cereal or pasta, etc, that sits for longer than a few months will get those bugs.

[QuilterChick]

Sounds like grain weevils. Check this website:

How To Prevent & Get Rid Of Grain Weevils | Apartment Therapy The Kitchn

also: www.pantrypest.com

For years I have used a crushed herb, "penny royal". You can buy it at most organic food stores by the ounce, very reasonable. I put it in little organdy drawstring bags that I buy at the craft store; and make up maybe 10 or 12 little bags and put them in all the corners of my cupboards, lazy Susan, etc., under bathroom vanities. Wherever I feel a pest may decide to investigate. It is a great natural pest repellant. (But poisonous to pets, so keep it away from pets.) You can Google it for more information.

[Caligula1]

Originally Posted by coastal chic

Any cereal or pasta, etc, that sits for longer than a few months will get those bugs.

Very true and yes they just may come with the packaged stuff you buy at the store, or their eggs anyway!

[loves2read]

I keep my flour in the freezer in ziplock bag I get all the air out of -- because I don't bake much anymore I can keep the same bag for year or more--no bugs

[mstark]

Thx to all for the helpful info! Lots to learn about living in FL but I suppose this sort of thing happens everywhere...........