Insect Pests of Stored Foods

Overview of insect pests of stored foods

Insects infesting stored foods are one of the most common household insect problems. The many different kinds of insects that invade stored dried foods are often referred to as pantry pests. They contaminate more food than they consume, and most people find the contaminated products unfit for consumption. Pantry pests are often discovered when they leave an infested food to crawl or fly about the house. They often accumulate in pots, pans or dishes or on window sills. Fortunately, they do not bite or sting people or pets nor do they feed on or damage the house structure or contents.

For the rest of this article, please see the handout titled Insect Pests of Stored Foods from Iowa State University Extension.

Links to this article are strongly encouraged, and this article may be republished without further permission if published as written and if credit is given to the author, Yard and Garden, and Iowa State University Extension and Outreach. If this article is to be used in any other manner, permission from the author is required. This article was originally published on September 1, 2016. The information contained within may not be the most current and accurate depending on when it is accessed.