What Are Stored Product Insects ?
Stored product insects are a group of pests that infest and feed on stored food products. They can cause significant damage to food supplies and contaminate them with their bodies, faeces, and larvae. These insects are commonly found in homes, food processing facilities, and storage warehouses throughout the UK.
Stored Product Insects (aka SPI) are pests that include weevils, moths, and beetles that live and breed in and around stored food items, also referred as pantry pests. These pests are a common problem in North London homes and businesses, including grocery stores, restaurants, food storage facilities, and anywhere else that people handle or store food. These pests tend to breed rapidly, allowing for a few to quickly turn into a large infestation that is difficult to control. Businesses that handle any kind of cereal, grain or dried food products are at high risk of infestation from stored product insects.
Common Types of Stored Product Insects in the UK:
- Beetles: Confused flour beetle, rust red flour beetle, saw-toothed grain beetle, biscuit beetle, larder beetle.
- Weevils: Rice weevil, grain weevil.
- Moths: Indian meal moth, mill moth / (aka Mediterranean moth).
Stored Product Insects are considered the world’s most expensive pest because they cost businesses billions annually in additional operating costs and loss of product.
Businesses Susceptible to Stored Product Insects
Stored Product Insects are a common problem for businesses that handle or store food, grains, or other dried goods. Here are some of the main types of businesses affected:
Food Industry
- Food manufacturing and processing plants: These include bakeries, mills, cereal manufacturers, chocolate factories, and other facilities that process raw materials into food products.
- Food storage and distribution warehouses: Businesses involved in storing and distributing food products, such as wholesalers, importers, and exporters.
- Retail food stores: Supermarkets, grocery stores, and convenience stores are at risk, especially if they have inadequate storage conditions.
- Restaurants and catering establishments: These businesses handle large quantities of food, making them potential breeding grounds for Stored Product Insects.
Other Industries
- Pet food manufacturers and distributors: Similar to human food, pet food can be infested with Stored Product Insects.
- Agricultural businesses: Grain stores, feed mills, and farms that store large quantities of grain or other crops are susceptible.
- Pharmaceutical industry: Some insects can infest medicinal herbs and spices used in pharmaceutical products.
Essentially, any business that handles or stores dried goods is at risk of a Stored Product infestation. They can cause the recall of products and the expense involved in issuing a recall, plus discarding infested or damaged products, is very high.
Signs of Stored Product Insects
- Damage to packaging and products is a red flag, for example, weevils leave visible exit holes in grains and moth larvae have chewing mouthparts, which they will use to cause damage to food and packaging.
- Moth larvae will also leave webbing, which they will spin as they feed and move through products. The webbing not only contaminates products but can also cause considerable damage to machinery and equipment.
- Stored Product Insects will cause food to ‘taint’, which is visible as discolouration.
- Grain that is infected tends to become warmer which can lead to damp, mould and even grain germination
- Track marks in dust or flour from adult insects is also a giveaway.
- Frass is the excrement of insect larvae and is another common sign of an infestation.
Stored Product Insects – Frequently Asked Questions
Are Stored Product Insects dangerous?
Stored Product Insects such as beetles, weevils, and moths, are primarily a nuisance due to the damage they cause to stored food. They can contaminate food with their bodies, faeces, and webbing, reducing its quality and making it unfit for consumption. However, they don’t pose a direct health risk to humans. That said, there are indirect risks:
- Allergic reactions: Some people might be allergic to insect parts or their droppings.
- Attracting other pests: Stored Product Insects can attract other pests like rodents and birds, which can carry diseases.
The biggest concern is food contamination and spoilage. This can lead to economic losses for businesses and individuals.
How do Stored Product Insects damage food items?
Stored Product Insects – Adults are the least destructive stage; typically the larvae of pantry pests that feed on and damage stored food. The female lays her eggs on a stored food product. Once the larvae hatch, they begin feeding on the food, contaminating it with their saliva and excrement.
How do Stored Product Insects Invade Your Food?
They can enter your home in several ways:
Infested Food Products:
- At the store: Insects can be present in food products before they even reach the shelves.
- At home: Once you bring infested food home, the insects can spread to other items in your pantry.
Entry Points:
- Openings: Insects can enter through cracks and crevices in walls, floors, and windows.
- Ventilation: They can also come in through vents or air ducts.
Hitchhiking:
- Packages: Insects can hide in cardboard boxes or paper bags.
- Other Items: They can be brought into your home on other items, like plants or second-hand furniture.
Where will I find Stored Product Insects?
You can find Stored Product Insects wherever food is stored. Inside homes, this is usually in the kitchen and pantry. They feed on a variety of dry goods, including whole grains, pasta, cereal, flour, cornmeal, dried fruits, spices, cake mixes, chocolate, tobacco, and dry pet food. In addition to living in homes, pantry pests are problematic in grocery stores, pharmacies, food processing facilities, restaurants, and food storage areas.
What do Stored Product Insects eat ?
Stored Product Insects will infest an incredibly wide variety of stored products; flour, rice, oats, cereals, dried fruits, pasta, crackers, nuts, dried herbs, spices, dry dog food, fish food, cake mixes, tobacco and bird seed. They also bore into whole grains and kernels, leaving distinctive holes in which they lay eggs.
How do I get rid of Stored Product Insects?
An infestation in the home is relatively simple to manage, providing it has been discovered early. Once in your home, Stored Product Insects will spread quickly through your property in search of other foods such as dried fruit, rice and cereals.
- Usually the initial source of the infestation can be traced back to partially used products that have been forgotten in the backs of pantries and shelves.The most effective step in eliminating an infestation is to throw away these infected products, preferably into an outside bin.
- Then deep clean your cupboards, pantry or anywhere food has been stored, thoroughly cleaning up any spills or food debris.
How can I prevent a Stored Product Infestation in the future?
- Inspect food: Check all food packages for signs of insects before purchasing.
- Store food properly: Keep food in airtight containers. (Pet food)
- Clean regularly: Wipe down shelves and cupboards to remove crumbs and spills.
- Rotate stock: Use older food items first to prevent long-term storage.
- Monitor for signs: Be on the lookout for signs of infestation, such as webbing, larvae, or adult insects.
- Proofing: Install weatherstripping around windows and doors. Use a caulking gun to repair cracks in exterior walls.
- Replace white outdoor lights: install yellow or LED lights, which are less attractive to insects. Turn off outdoor lights when not in use.
The Takeaway
Stored Product Insects may not always come to mind when thinking about pests, but they cost businesses billions annually in additional operating costs and loss of product. In this blog, we’ve provided information on spotting the signs of Stored Product Insect infestations, as well as advice to prevent these tiny parasites.
If you want to protect your home or business from Stored Product Insects, and you think you need professional advice , contact Sparta Pest Control now.