Editor,
I have received several work orders this semester about little "worms" in kitchen cabinets. These are not worms or maggots; they are the larval stage of either a moth or a beetle, from a group collectively known as stored-product pests.
Stored-product pests include a variety of small beetles, moths and other bugs that infest food products such as cereals, rice, flour, breads, spices, dried fruits, candies and many others. These little pests are generally brought into a dorm in groceries. They are often found in sealed food products and some species are capable of boring out of sealed boxes, crawling along a shelf and infesting other foods.
Although there are a number of different types of stored-product pests, the methods for controlling them are basically the same:
l All food products should be removed from all kitchen cabinets, particularly those that contain susceptible food products that may be infested.
l The cabinets should be cleaned very thoroughly with a disinfectant, with extra care that the space between the shelves and the cabinet walls not be overlooked. Stored-product pests can live in loose food scraps that get wedged in these areas.
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l The food products should be thoroughly inspected for insects. Examine each box for pinhead size holes. Any infested food should be discarded.
l Only foods that are sure to be free of pests should be placed back in the cabinet. If in doubt, throw it away.
l Change stores where you buy food as these bugs are coming from that store. Or, if you prefer, at least notify the manager of the store so they can do something on their end to prevent them from selling the bugs with the food.
If you find these pests in your cabinets, please give me a call and I will help you get rid of them, but I cannot spray pesticides for them, nor should I.
If the stored-product pest turns out to be a moth, I can hang some pheromone traps in the kitchen, which is a sticky trap with a sex pheromone that attracts and catches male moths and prevents them from mating (doesn't work on humans).
If you have any questions about stored-product pests or any other bugs, please feel free to give me a call at 440-6384 or visit my Web site, www.askthebugman.com.
Richard Fagerlund, B.C.E.
UNM Environmental Services
