Most Common Bugs and Rodents in the Pantry

Pantry Pests: Protect Your Food Storage from Unwanted Intruders.

Your pantry should store food—not pests.

Indian meal moths, flour beetles, sawtoothed grain beetles, cigarette beetles, and drugstore beetles can all make their way into stored foods. These common pantry pests often arrive hidden inside packaged goods—even unopened items—and quickly spread through shelves, corners, and cracks.

At American Pest, we help homeowners eliminate activity, stop recurring infestations, and keep the spaces where you store dry goods cleaner, safer, and pest-free.

What Are Pantry Pests?

Pantry pests are insects that feed on stored products such as grains, flour, cereal, spices, nuts, dried fruit, pet food, and even decorative dried items like potpourri. The most frequent pests in pantry environments include:

• Indian meal moths
• Flour beetles
• Sawtoothed grain beetles
• Cigarette & drugstore beetles
• Rodents (Mice and Rats)

These pests can contaminate food with larvae, webbing, frass, and moisture—making fast identification and removal essential.

How Pantry Pests Get In

Pantry pests typically enter homes through infested products purchased at stores. These insects may already be inside sealed or unopened packaging. Once inside, they can spread across shelves, slip into tiny crevices, and infest multiple food items.

High-risk items include:

• Dried flowers or potpourri
• Grain products (flour, cereal, oats, rice)
• Baking mixes
• Dry pet food and bird seed
• Nuts, spices, dried herbs
• Chocolate, pasta, crackers
• Dried flowers or potpourri

How to Get Rid of Pantry Pests

If you discover an infestation, prompt action helps prevent it from spreading. To remove and discourage pantry pests:

• Inspect and discard infested items immediately—when in doubt, throw it out.
• Store food in airtight containers made of glass, metal, or thick plastic.
• Use screw-top airtight containers (like Vittles Vaults) for dog food, cat food, and bird seed to eliminate lingering odors.
• Vacuum shelves, corners, and cracks to remove debris, larvae, and eggs.
• Wash surfaces with soap and water to remove traces that attract pests.
• Keep storage areas clean and dry to limit food sources and hiding places.
• Regularly check dried goods and long-term items for signs of activity.

While homeowners can address minor issues through cleaning and proper storage, persistent or widespread infestations may require professional support.

American Pest: Whole-Home Protection That Keeps Pantry Pests Away

For more than 100 years, American Pest has helped protect Maryland, D.C., and Virginia homes from nuisance and destructive pests. Our science-driven pest control programs provide ongoing protection that reduces pest pressures both inside and outside the home—including the areas where you store food.

Our certified specialists:

• Identify the source of pest activity
• Implement targeted treatment strategies
• Reduce conditions that attract stored-product pests
• Deliver year-round protection for long-term peace of mind

Let the region’s leading experts keep your food storage safe, clean, and protected.