Extension ServiceBugs in my pantry—what do I do?
Two weeks ago, when fixing brown basmati rice for dinner, I noticed many small, black bugs. Some were dead, but many were still crawling actively. I purchased this rice two months ago, but I threw all of it away.
Today I was preparing white rice from a similar kitchen container I use, and there were more bugs! Should I throw away the rice that is in the original packaging, or just the rice in my container? How can I prevent this in the future?
Getting rid of the pests
There could be two sources of the pantry pests you describe. You could be bringing them home in products from the store, or they have infested your cabinets and are spreading to the new products you bring home.
Freezing the rice and any other affected food items for 2-3 days will kill the existing pantry pests. Then, you will need to store the food in airtight containers to avoid re-infestation.
You can also use pheromone traps as a tactic against pantry pests. For more information, check out this resource: What to Do About Insects in Stored Food from Solve Pest Problems.
Preventing future pests
Food packaging from the grocery store is inadequate for protection from pantry pests. Glass jars with screw-on lids and heavy plastic containers will work, but plastic bags and cardboard boxes will not prevent infestation.
Be sure to clean your cabinets well. Vacuum any spilled food dust from the corners and cracks. Be sure to inspect any pet food for contamination, too. The pests could originate from dog food or bird seed.
