Stored product or pantry pests include several beetles, moths, and a mite that can infest whole grains or processed foods. Usually, the first sign of a problem is the appearance of small beetles crawling over counter tops, moths flying across rooms, or caterpillars crawling up walls or across ceilings. The solution requires finding and destroying all infested products in which these pests have developed, a general cleanup, and use of sealed storage containers to prevent recurring problems. 

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Some stored product pests feed inside whole kernels. These include the granary weevil, rice weevil, and the Angoumois grain moth.

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Rice weevils are 1/8- to 1/4-inch long, reddish brown to black snout beetles. Adults can live for 6 to 8 months and may be found some distance from infested articles. 

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The larval stage is a legless grub that develops inside kernels of wheat or corn, or other whole grains or caked materials. Development from egg to adult takes as little as 1 month. 

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Pantry pests can reproduce quickly to take over your kitchen, and what may initially seem like a small problem can quickly turn in to an infestation.  

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