Do you have spiders in your pantry? They may not be spiders. Instead, they could be Spider Beetles. At first glance these tiny pests may look like spiders, but often they turn out to be little beetles that scavenge around for food. With a wide and diverse diet, these pests have spread all throughout America and often invade our food storages. A Five Star Termite & Pest Control will go into detail concerning these kitchen pests and what can be done to control them.
What Do Spider Beetles Look Like?
Spider beetles will appear to look like an ordinary spider, hence the reason they were given this particular name. However you may notice that these little critters have long antennae and legs. They also have a spherical abdomen that is reddish brown to almost black in color. Depending on the species of spider beetle, their leg coloring can vary from cream to black. The spider beetle is a scavenger. They will eat just anything they find including stored food. However if stored food cannot be found, they will eat rodent or bird droppings along with any other debris if necessary. Spider beetles usual find their way in to people’s home and pantries by way of cooking products, such as flour, sugar and cereals. Often adult spider beetles lay their egg in these types of food during processing where they will later hatch. The larva is little and whitish in color and they will later spin a cocoon made of silk. From this cocoon they will hatch into an adult Spider Beetle. Sometimes the adult spider beetle will chew holes about 1/32 of an inch in size which may be a sign of their presence. You may also see their silk cocoons which are about 1/8 of an inch long.
How Do You Get Rid of a Spider Beetle Infestation?
Controlling spider beetles can be difficult, but there are ways to battle these tiny intruders. Again spider beetles often lay their eggs in flour and grain products. You can kill their eggs by putting these types of items in the freezer for 24 hours. The extreme cold kills their eggs and prevents them from hatching. Additionally, after you have frozen these types of food products prone to Spider Beetles, seal them up with an airtight container made of either glass or solid plastic so the Spider Beetles can’t chew through it. Also keep discarded food picked up and disposed of properly. It also helps to throw away expired foods. If you have a spider beetle infestation, throw away all the food that could be infected. Use a vacuum cleaner to suck up any debris and food remnants when you clean out your pantry or cabinets. You should remove all food and containers. Afterward, spray pesticides on the inside and give the pesticides time to settle.
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Kitchen pests like the Spider Beetle can be an unwanted and annoying intruder that make you feel like your food has been completely infected. A spider beetle infestation can waste time and money. Of course A Five Star Termite & Pest Control is familiar with spider beetles and can help remove and control a future spider beetle invasion. For all your pest control needs, contact us today.
