An infestation in the pantry can be uncomfortable and annoying. One of the annoying pests that frequently invade houses is the biscuit beetle, or we can call it drugstore beetles.
These tiny insects frequently infest food items that are preserved, particularly cereals, grains, and biscuits. However, with the right information and preventive steps, you can eradicate the biscuit beetles from your kitchen and avoid further infestations. In this article, let’s explore the information on how to get rid of biscuit beetles and completely eliminate them from the house.
Why Do You Get Biscuit Beetles?
Before we discuss the biscuit beetle’s attraction to the house, let’s see what exactly biscuit beetles are. Biscuit beetles are usually 2 to 3 millimetres long and mostly invade where foods are stored.
They are oval-shaped, red-coloured, small beetles with frontal wings, which are called elytra. Because of their short wings, they can’t usually fly longer, so they mostly crawl, which makes it easy for us to catch these insects and eliminate them from our space.
Now, let’s see what actually attracts biscuit beetles to our home,
- Biscuit beetles are mostly attracted to dry food sources like biscuits, nuts and spices.
- Biscuit beetles need high humidity and high moisture environments for reproduction. So places with moisture deteriorating products can attract biscuit beetles.
- Sometimes, lack of cleaning in the kitchen, such as food spills and debris, may cause biscuit beetle infestation in our house.
How to Get Rid of Biscuit Beetles?
With suitable methods and information, you can quickly eliminate these biscuit beetles and prevent future pest infestations in the house. Those methods of eliminating the beetles are,
Inspect and Clean: Examine cupboards, pantry items, and sealed food containers for signs of infestation. Discard any infested food products, especially grains, biscuits, and dried goods. Vacuum shelves, floors, and corners to remove beetles, larvae, and eggs. Dispose of the vacuum bag immediately.
Seal Entry Points: Use caulk to close any cracks in walls or around windows and doors to prevent re-entry. Airtight containers for food storage are used to deter beetle access.
Use Natural Remedies: Sprinkle food-grade diatomaceous earth in affected areas. It’s a natural insecticide that dehydrates and kills insects. Use essential oils like peppermint or eucalyptus as a deterrent. Mix with water and spray-infested areas.
Chemical Solutions: If the infestation persists, consider using an insecticide specifically labelled for beetle control, following all instructions carefully.
Regular Monitoring: Use sticky traps or pheromone traps to monitor for beetle activity. Regularly check food storage areas for signs of infestation to catch any new activity early.
Conclusion
Biscuit beetles can be a major problem in the kitchen and can spread to health issues in the house, especially for children and elderly people. So, eliminating them quickly is the best course of action to control the infestation and have a pest-free environment in the house. If the infestation is severe after applying the above steps, it is best to contact a pest control professional for assistance.