There are a variety of insects that can infest stored foods, damaging raw materials that are used at home or in business as well as contaminating the finished product. These are known as Stored Product Insects (or SPI). Infested products will make any affected materials such as dry fruit, rice & wheat unfit for consumption.
There are a large number of species of stored product insects, most of which are capable of living on a wide variety of foodstuffs, but some can be more specific – for example grain weevils, which live on whole cereals.
Infestations by these insects ranges from being a nuisance to causing a major loss, depending on the type of insect and the damage caused. Both adults and larvae of beetles and mites cause physical damage to foodstuffs, but only the larvae of moth do. However all insects or fragments therefore cause contamination problems.
The majority of stored product insects are tropical in origin, require elevated temperatures and they all thrive in warm temperatures which cause acceleration of their life cycle.
Control:
Successful control of stored product pests requires regular service by a professional pest control company. Eradication requires a close understanding of the pest species, its biology, lifestyle and habits.
Examples of stored product insects are:
- Biscuit beetle
- Booklice
- Brown house moth
- Confused flour beetle
- Grain weevil
- Indian meal moth
- Rust red flour beetle
- Saw toothed grain beetle
- White shouldered house moth
If you are experiencing any problems from any stored product insects, contact AG Pest Management on 01226 288844 and let us eradicate your pest problems.