Nothing is worse than going to grab your favorite box of cereal in the morning and realizing that it is empty. Maybe you can point the finger at that sneaky family member in your home that always seems to put back an empty box, or perhaps it’s not that obvious as to where it all went. Unfortunately, cereal is not just a beloved staple in our diets, pests and rodents also find it just as delightful. Before you start pointing fingers at who took the last bowl of your delicious treat, keep reading to understand who else might be eating your cereal… It may not be your family after all.
Who Else Might Be Eating Your Cereal?
As we know, pests and rodents typically make their way into homes and businesses in search of food, water, and shelter, and your pantry can serve as a grocery store for them. These unwanted food loving pantry visitors come in all types of shapes, sizes, and species and seek out easy to find food sources, particularly flour, grains, pasta, rice, and cereal. Because the average American consumes 160 bowls of cereal each year, you are likely to have a cereal box, or five, somewhere throughout your home or business.
What types of pests are specifically attracted to cereal and other pantry items? What critters might be eating your cereal may vary; however, mice, flies, ants, moths, beetles, and spiders are usually the most common culprits to our cereal being invaded. Not only do these pantry pest leave you with empty and damaged boxes, they can also contaminate your food and bring health risks to you and your family.
What Are Some Signs of Pantry Pests?
Before you grab an empty box of food, there are some indications that you may have unwanted eaters in your pantry. Let’s review.
- Marks on the Container: Rodents and pests love to chew or gnaw through the actual box or bag your food is in. Look for distinctive teeth marks around the edges of your food containers.
- In Your Actual Food: One of the most obvious ways to indicate a problem, is if you find one or more of these critters in your food. If you happen to see something that looks like tiny grains of brown rice in your food, you likely have a problem.
- Recalled Items: A lot of pantry pests start at the manufacturer or the store where you purchased the product. Watch for recalls on items that you have. Rarely do cereal insects infiltrate the home or food storage from outdoors.
If you notice something questionable in your food, discard it and look at other items throughout your pantry. These pests and rodents likely will not stick to just munching on one item.
How Can You Prevent Pantry Pests?
As we mentioned above, a lot of food seeking insects are brought into your home within the actual food items themselves, so those can be hard to catch; however, there are some things you can do to prevent a larger infestation and to help you avoid outside pests and rodents from eating your cereal and other food items.
- Check Items at the Store: Before bringing food home, check the items and boxes and containers for any signs of damage. Rips, holes, or tears could be an indication that there are pantry pests inside the food. Keep in mind, these pests don’t just love our food, they can also make a meal out of pet food, so check that as well.
- Purchase in Smaller Quantities: The longer an item sits in your pantry, the more opportunity there is for an infestation. Try buying smaller quantities and replacing items more often.
- Keep Your Space Clean: Make sure you clean up spills and crumbs as they happen. Pests and rodents will make their way into your home or business if they know they have amble food sources. Leaving a feast for them, is simply an open invitation for them to frequent your space and food.
- Store Food Items Properly: Storing your food and pet food in airtight containers, can help to prevent pantry pests from making a meal out of your cereal and other food items. Try to keep food in mason jars, plastic or glass containers, and other storage options that they are unable to chew through. Never leave food open and unsealed.
If you have already questioned everyone, and still find your food missing, and have to wonder who else might be eating your cereal, you likely have a pest or rodent infestation in your Northwest Ohio or Southeast Michigan home or business.
At Delving Pest Control, we can help. Delving Pest Control offers local affordable revolutionary pest control solutions right to your doorstep. We have interior and exterior discreet and private pest control services for both residential and commercial properties.
Delving Pest Control is committed to excellence in every aspect of our business. Contact us today for a free estimate.
