How to Get Rid of Pantry Bugs the Natural Way

Wondering how to get rid of pantry bugs without harmful chemicals? Trying to avoid pantry bugs from setting up camp in your kitchen? Looking to identify pantry bugs, such as types of ants, fruit flies, moths, and weevils? We’ve got you covered with these nontoxic ways to protect your pantry from bugs.

Opening up a bag of grains or pulses and finding a network of bugs moving around can be one of the most frustrating things to discover in your pantry. It’s not only an inconvenience, as discovering pantry bugs can disrupt your menu plans for the night, but it also can impact your budget due to destruction of food. It can be tempting to spray chemicals and set traps to rid your kitchen of these pests, but there are methods that are more natural and safer. If you’re looking to restore peace in your kitchen oasis and keep your family and furry friends safe from ingesting chemicals and breathing in unpleasant fumes, then try some of these natural pantry bug protection steps today.  

Prevent Pantry Bugs in the First Place

The first method of keeping pantry bugs away should always be prevention. You can prevent bugs from occupying your kitchen by blocking off access points such as holes and window openings, as well as keeping counters and shelves clean and free of debris that might attract bugs.  

Another way to prevent an infestation of pantry bugs is to only buy what you need. Not only will this save money and prevent food waste, but it also helps lower the risk of pantry bugs remaining undetected in your unused groceries. Always practice the first-in, first-out method. Meaning that your older pantry items should be pushed to the front so they get used up more quickly, and the newer purchases should go in the back. Remember, pantry bugs are often attracted to shelf-stable foods with a long shelf-life, such as grains, crackers, pulses, nuts, seeds. 

Store your pantry foods in sealable, airtight containers to avoid pantry bugs. You’d be surprised to see how pantry bugs can access the tiniest opening in a bag of flour, and even chew their way through plastic and paper packaging. If you are experiencing pantry bug problems, try transferring shelf-stable foods, such as flours, grains, pulses, nuts, seeds, crackers, and cereals, into sealable, airtight containers, such as glass jars with tightly fitting lids. I love to use different sizes of mason jars (small, medium and large) with screw top lids in my pantry to keep it tight! 

How to Get Rid of Pantry Bugs the Natural Way

Check out these types of common pantry bugs in order to help identify them and keep these bugs away from your food with these natural tips.  

• Fruit Flies. If you’ve ever been in a busy kitchen in the summer time, you’ve probably had to swat away your fair share of fruit flies. What do fruit flies look like? These tiny (3-4 mm long) flies have a tan thorax, black and gray abdomen, and red eyes. Where do fruit flies come from? Fruit flies are attracted to ripe produce; they get into your house, feed off fermenting foods, and lay their eggs nearby. How long do fruit flies live? It only takes about eight days to develop from egg to adult. Keep fruit flies away by blocking their access (windows and doors), putting away ripe fruit, and sealing trash in an airtight container. The best way to rid your kitchen of fruit flies is to set up a solution with vinegar or wine where you see them most often.

• Ants. In addition to being carriers of bacteria, many types of ants, from big to small, can create havoc in your pantry. Before you spend money on an exterminator, check your cabinets for natural defense, including: black pepper, peppermint, and coffee grounds, which are a few natural ingredients that can help destroy and deter ants. Most importantly, store your foods in airtight containers to avoid ant infestations. And remember that ants are attracted to sweet foods, so pay particular attention to sweets and sugars.

• Pantry Moths. These small pests are attracted to dry goods, such as flour and grains, and lay their eggs inside of open containers. You can spy tell-tale webs and larvae of infested pantry moth food items. One way to circumvent a moth infestation is to store your dry goods in the freezer temporarily or permanently. If you already have a moth infestation, the best way to get rid of them is to discard (compost!) any infested dry goods and give your pantry a deep clean before investing in airtight containers for all dried goods. Once you have your pantry under control, watch for evidence of pantry moths that flutter about your kitchen.
• Weevils. Just like moths, weevils are attracted to dry goods, like grains, nuts and beans. Once a weevil hitches a ride from the store and into your pantry, they may lay eggs inside of dry goods. After this happens, infected items need to be thrown away and the area of infestation should be thoroughly cleaned. Once your pantry is under control and your products are stored in airtight containers, try placing dry bay leaves, cloves, and whole black peppercorns in your pantry to help deter weevils.  

Learn more about sustainable cooking methods with these blogs: 

6 Ways to Conserve Water with Your Diet
6 Ways to Cut Your Food Waste
Mealtime Food Sustainability for Families

Written by Sharon Palmer, MSFS, RDN with Cara Joseph, Dietetic Intern 

References:

Alharbi, Jenan S et al. “Monomorium ant is a carrier for pathogenic and potentially pathogenic bacteria.” BMC research notes vol. 12,1 230. 16 Apr. 2019, doi:10.1186/s13104-019-4266-4

Boyles, M. (2019). How to get rid of pantry moths and worms. Retrieved from: https://www.almanac.com/how-get-rid-pantry-moths-and-worms