Certain beetles and moths are notorious stored-food pests in home, as are some mites.
Most food products are contaminated by insects and insect parts to some degree. Most pests are imported into the house with foodstuffs already infested, if only the egg is present, it will not be obvious that the food is infested.
Larvae hatch from eggs, feed and develop and adults emerge in the product.
If the infested food is not put into sealed containers after purchase other food in the kitchen or pantry may become infested.
Pests can bore through wrappers or cardboard containers, providing entry for other pests. Adults of some species feed in the same food that the eggs were laid in; others leave the food to pupate somewhere in cupboard or crevices in walls.
Life cycles of stored products pests vary, but management and control of these pests is about the same for all species.
Stored Food Pests
