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PESTS IN FOOD

Stored grain insects are a health hazard in both private homes and businesses like food processing plants, warehouses, bakeries, stores, restaurants, mills, farms and silos. Identifying and removing the source of the infestation is a critical part of effectively controlling these pests.

HOW TO IDENTIFY PESTS IN FOOD

Common signs of stored product insects (SPIs) include:

  • damage to stored product live or dead insects (small beetles and moths), larvae, pupae or silken webbing on food storage bins on shelves
  • infestation, holes, larvae or webbing on the outside of packets or bags
  • larvae, pupae or silk webbing in food harbourages in cracks and crevices around shelves or on machinery
  • larvae, pupae or silk webbing in food spillages
  • larvae, pupae or silk webbing on beams and window sills
  • Indications of the pests in insects traps or rodent stations

STORED PRODUCTS INSECT PREVENTION METHODS

  • Denying access to your premises by stored product pests should be the first line of defense.
  • High standards of hygiene and sanitation need to be maintained at all times throughout the year, but particularly in the warmer months when the temperature can expedite the development of stored insect pests.
  • If possible maintain storage facilities at or below 16 C and R/H at 30% or less.
  • Ensure high standards of hygiene
  • All stock / food material should be stored off the floor and away from walls to facilitate cleaning and inspections.
  • Keep raw materials in robust packaging
  • Install tight fitting insect screens or screen doors, and ensure that they are maintained in good condition.
  • Waste management.
  • Vigilant Inspections and Monitoring
  • Inspect incoming raw materials
  • Fit monitoring devices
  • Use Stored Pest Insect Pheromone Pots
  • We recommend that your staff also perform routine monitoring to ensure early detection of any pest problem.
  • Effective Control Using Approved Pesticides
  • Dusting
  • Precision
  • Auto-aerosol spraying devices
  • Space sprayers –
  • Exterior infestations
  • Fumigation
  • Grain protectants

FAQs

Common signs of food insects may include finding damage, adult insects (small moths or beetles), larvae, pupae or silken webbing on food storage bins on shelves or holes on the outside of packets and bags.

Yes. In order to control insects within food, the infested food must be removed or destroyed in a manner that it will not disperse the infestation, and / or treated in a way that presents no hazards in its end use.

Pests in food, also known as Stored Product Insects (SPIs), covers a very large range of insect species. Some of these include:

  • Mediterranean Flour Moth (Ephestia kuehniella)
  • Biscuit Beetle  (Ahasverus advena)
  • Booklice (Various species – Liposcelis bostrychophila, Lepinotus patruelis)
  • Cigarette Beetle (Lasioderma serricorne)
  • Merchant Grain Beetle (Oryzaephilus Mercator)
  • Rice Weevil (Sitophilus Oryzae)

Some ants – such as fire ants – can give painful stings, while the garden ant has swarming characteristics that can contaminate food. Unlike bees, ants can sting multiple times.

While a wide range of do-it-yourself products are available for ants, often effective ant control requires a professional pest control operator.

Most ants come inside your home or business looking for food. They are attracted to sweet and sticky substances. It is important to clean up any food and liquid spillages immediately and to cover any food in storage areas. In addition, to prevent ants from entering your home, seal access points such as cracks and crevices in door and window frames. For further details, refer to our page on preventing ants entering your home or premise.