It appears that conditions have been just right for an outbreak of pantry pest in Kingsville area homes recently.

Several specimens were brought by the Extension office for identification over the past two-week period.

Pantry pest can be found in nearly every home in Texas at some time or other.

For the most part they are no more than an occasional inconvenience.

Pantry pest enter the home through a variety of ways.

Food can be infested while at the farm or in the garden, or during storage or transport.

Some pantry pest are attracted to lights and windows and may enter in cracks and crevices.

The more common pantry pest in Texas include the cigarette beetle, sometimes called drugstore beetle, merchant beetle, flour beetle and Indian meal moth.

Cigarette beetles are the most common pests of home pantries in Texas.

The larvae of the beetle feeds on seeds, grain, nuts, beans, flour and dried floral arrangements.

They are strong fliers that are rounded in shape.

Merchant beetles infest cereal, flour products, macaroni and dried fruits.

Adults are about 1/8 inch long, brown, elongated and flattened in shape.

These beetles do not fly, but their flattened bodies make it easy for them to enter food packages.

Flour beetles are also common in Texas. They feed on cereals, grains, beans, nuts, dried fruits, spices and dried milk.

They favor milled grain products and tend to stay away from whole grains and intact seeds.

The Indian meal moth feeds on dried fruits, nuts and cereals.

It also enjoys dried pet food and bird seed. The adult is a moth with whitishgray wings and a reddish-pinkish body color.

The caterpillars are often seen crawling up walls prior to spinning cocoons.

Regardless of the type of pantry pest there are several steps that can be taken to get populations under control.

The first step is to locate and eliminate infested food and products.

Often removing an infested package of flour, macaroni or cake mix is all that is needed to solve the problem.

Infestations frequently start with spilled grains or pet food.

Therefore, good sanitation is important. Vacuuming and cleaning shelves periodically is a good control strategy.

Storing products that are kept for long periods in airtight containers also helps in keeping populations in check.

Placing the infested product in the oven at 130 degrees for an hour or freezer for 7 to 14 days can get rid of pantry pest in some items such as dried pet food or homegrown dried beans or peas.

On, rare occasions insecticides may be needed to control infestations and there are insecticides that are labeled for use in food storage areas.

Always make sure that the label of the product being used states that the insecticide can be used indoors and in kitchens. Of course read and follow the label instructions when using any insecticide.