Pantry moths are a nightmare to have because they easily get introduced into homes from purchased food products. Now, one of the ways to fight back includes the use of pantry moth traps.

This is what our conversation will dwell on.

If you have pantry moth issues, you’ll find this article an interesting read as we discuss pantry moth trapping.

How Pantry Moths Get Into Your Home

As mentioned briefly, pantry moths are so destructive to drive food products and get into your home from the stores.

How? Simply by hitching a ride whenever you go to purchase food! Now, bagged and boxed food purchased at the grocery store may be contaminated.

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When these are brought into your pantry, they find an even better breeding ground. Eggs are laid in dried foodstuff and hatch into larvae which worsens the infestation situation.

However, no matter the extent of the problem, pantry moths can be gotten rid of.

Are Pantry Moth Traps Effective? Where Can They be Used?

Do pantry moth traps work?

One of the first things that are called into question about pantry moth traps is whether they’re effective or not. Now, it depends on the type of trap you’re looking at. The working principles of certain traps give them an edge over others.

The most reliable among the others are the moth pheromone traps.

As the name implies, moth pheromone traps release pheromones to attract pantry moths. When lured in, pantry moths get stuck due to the sticky nature of such traps.

There are also those traps that use the attraction of pantry moths to light.

Pheromone traps give better results than other types of traps. However, pantry moth traps only do a little to prevent or stop these pests. Much better ways can be adopted to combat pantry moth infestation.

Focusing Your Treatment Efforts

Without clearly identifying where these moths are hiding, there’s little you can do to get rid of them. Luckily for you, you only need to focus your search efforts in and around your pantry area.

Being able to identify these pests means that your treatment efforts are focused in the right direction.

To thoroughly inspect, you’ll need a flashlight and other tools like a magnifying glass. Next, all food packaging will need to be examined for tiny holes. All tight spaces and corners must also be searched including those below shelves.

A thorough inspection will require sifting through stored food to identify moths or their larvae. Pantry moth larvae will look wormy.

Trap Replacement Frequency

Pantry moth traps continue to be effective for a period of three months, after which they decline in functionality. To ensure you continue to have the desired effect, you’ll need to replace such traps every 90 days.

Does it take that long to get rid of pantry moths?

Not really! Being able to keep an infestation under check requires that you keep a trap as close as possible. Some pantry moth traps can be kept at the back of your pantry.

Using A Pantry Moth Trap Won’t Do Justice to Your Situation

One of the things you’ll need to know about pantry moths is the fact that a trap alone won’t get you the results you seek. Pantry moth traps only get part of the job done.

In other words, it focuses on the effects more than the causes.

Preventive Approach To Pantry Moth Infestation

The best way to handle a pantry moth situation is through the adoption of far-reaching measures.

Such measures include taking preventive action. Preventive treatment involves taking several actions such as cleaning your pantry and washing all food containers.

Others include halting all food restocking, throwing out the trash, and proper storage. You can also freeze food products, keep some bay leaves around your pantry, and wash or wipe down surfaces.

  • Cleaning your Pantry

A thorough cleaning of your pantry area is highly necessary.

Here, the aim is to get rid of all pantry moths, eggs, and larvae lying around. There are several ways to do this among which is vacuuming. Vacuuming helps remove those lying around.

You’ll need to empty your pantry for this to be possible. Another cleaning alternative involves washing your pantry shelves. It’s preferable to use some hot soapy water for this job.

A solution consisting of equal parts of water and white vinegar should be used for rinsing.

  • Washing all Food Containers

Having disposed of pantry moth-infested food, it’s best to have your storage containers thoroughly washed. Both the inside and outside of these food storage containers should be washed and dried.

This is a necessary action as pantry moths may be sticking around.

  • Halting all Food Restocking

You must put on hold any food restocking plans.

Pantry moths are a real headache for homeowners and will need to be completely gotten rid of to avoid re-infestation. This should be the last action you take after completing the cleaning or maintenance tasks.

  • Throwing Out Trash

When cleaning out pantry moth infested items, ensure you throw out all trash. Leaving your trash to sit around for long will only result in a comeback.

Pantry moths will emerge from your trash can and head back to their favored location.

  • Proper Storage

Proper food storage is highly essential to prevent moth infestation. Consider emptying your flour and grain foods as well as cereals into airtight containers. Airtight containers such as glass do a lot to prevent infestations.

With proper storage, you get a better handle on the situation.

  • Freeze Food Products

One of the ways to be doubly sure that your food products aren’t infested from grocery store shelves is by having them frozen. Such foods include grain, flour, and cereals among other dry foods.

Tightly seal these in plastic bags and freeze them for upwards of two days or more.

  • Keep Some Bay Leaves

Bay leaves work like magic in curtailing the presence of pantry moths.

Get some of these and scatter around your pantry. You’ll be amazed by how effective they are in keeping pantry moths at bay.

  • Wash or Wipe Down Surfaces

Soapy washcloths or disinfectant wipes will serve just fine in cleaning all your bottles and cans. This is a preventive action that gets rid of pantry moth eggs or contamination from the grocery store.

We’ve seen that pantry moth traps are great tools that have around for control. However, these don’t always give you the results you seek. In other words, they’re not as efficient as taking preventive action.

As such, we’ve listed a wide range of preventive actions to consider.

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