Stored Product Pests
Distasteful as it may be, many of the stored products we purchase contain insect eggs of one species or another. Ordinarily, this really doesn’t matter much. But if the product sits long enough in the right temperature and humidity conditions, these eggs may hatch out into larvae. The larvae, generally small worm-like creatures, consume some of the product (for energy) and then pupate, eventually emerging as adults. The adults are usually capable of flight, and they mate and then the females lay their eggs on or near the original product or some other protein source. Gradually the numbers increase until the level of activity is quite noticeable, with large numbers of larvae and adults being found, and several (or many) separate products infested.
Treatment for stored product pests consists of identifying and discarding the source product or products, and chemically treating the cracks and crevices in and adjacent to the place the products were stored. Without a source of protein, and with the areas where more eggs would be laid treated with a residual insecticide, the numbers decrease and stop fairly quickly in most cases.
Carpet beetles
Carpet beetles feed on and breed in a very wide variety of grain-based products, as well as a variety of natural fiber products, including some clothing. Most commonly, the adults are small mottled grey beetles similar in shape to the common ladybug, but only about 1/8 as big; the larvae are like a very small, fuzzy brown-striped caterpillar. Carpet beetles are indigenous to the Northwest, so they may fly in from outside and start an infestation, besides arriving in products in the egg stage. A very thorough inspection, and careful treatment of a variety of areas, is needed to achieve control of carpet beetles once they have become established.
Indian meal moths
Indian meal moths prefer whole-grain materials: nuts, raisins and other dried fruit, beans, popcorn, dried corn, some dried flowers, and sometimes wicker products. Treatment for Indian meal moths is essentially the same as for carpet beetles, but it needn’t be as extensive since the beetle’s choice of food materials is comparatively limited.
Grain beetles
