How to preserve our pantry from moths and pests (meal moths)

How to preserve our pantry from moths and pests (meal moths)

Summer is upon us and in addition to the sun and the long-awaited holidays, the summer awakens in us an irrepressible desire for a vegetable garden and a certain desire to be outdoors, in contact with nature, but it brings with it , in our homes, even some very unwelcome guests. I am referring to those insects and parasites that like to proliferate in the pantries of our kitchens or in the closet where we usually store food supplies.



He is about to end up run over, his mother saves him

Summer is upon us and in addition to the sun and the long-awaited holidays, the beautiful season awakens in us airrepressible desire for a vegetable garden and a certain desire for be outside, in contact with nature, but also brings very unwelcome guests into our homes. I refer to those insects and parasites that like to proliferate in pantries of our kitchens or in the closet where we usually keep the food supplies.



In this period, in fact, we are witnessing a rapid increase in our sympathetic homes butterflies, similar to small moths; these commodity insects, better known as flour moths they attack everything they find preferring flours, cereals, dried fruit, biscuits, bread and pasta.

The most common species are Pyralis farinalis and Ephestia kuehniella, micro lepidoptera very similar to gold with the typical shape of a small nocturnal butterfly. They are not indigenous but they reached us by sea from Asia, first passing through the United States of America. They are brown in color while the wings are crossed by a light silver transverse stripe.

Ma how to keep these animals out of our pantries? How to eradicate them and prevent their return?

First, let's get to know our enemy better.

Where they live and what they feed on

Both the larvae, small yellowish red-headed caterpillars about 1 cm long, and the adults they love cereals (rice, barley, corn, wheat, bird seeds), all types of flours and generally wheat derivatives (oatmeal, cornmeal, pasta, cereals, flours, cake mixes, pancake flour, muesli, dry pet food), dried fruit and so on and so forth.

Generally these animals arrive in our homes in the form of eggs or microscopic larvae through paper packaging such as i bags of dog food or for birds that should in this regard be kept if possible in the garage or outside in containers with lids.

Another vehicle of contamination can be le packs of sugar or flour that would go keep for a few days in the freezer in order to eliminate any parasites.



An important thing to prevent their proliferation is to never mix old products and foods with new ones and thoroughly clean the plastic containers before reusing them.

What to do to avoid infestations: natural remedies

If you want to avoid unnecessary waste ed eliminate unwelcome guests from your kitchens, even preventing their return. Here are some simple tips for you:

  • Avoid storing dry food for too long, which can facilitate new infestations of moths and beetles. If you notice the presence of very small textures similar to cobwebs or you notice the presence of small caterpillars or butterflies, immediately clear the pantry and carry out a thorough cleaning.

  • Use some traps a basis of pheromone. They are readily available on the market and ready for use. I recommend you put only one for each environment. The use of multiple traps confuses the insects and makes your attempts in vain.

  • Create a mix composed of XNUMX/XNUMX cup corn flour e boric acid in the ratio of 1 to 3. Arrange the mix in small, shallow containers within your pantries. Avoid direct contact of the substance with food, children and pets.

  • Regularly clean furniture and cupboards with a small vacuum cleaner and clean the surfaces with a damp sponge soaked in a solution of water and vinegar.


  • Put inside a small container of the cotton wool soaked in essential oil of eucalyptus: this will keep the butterflies away and will spread a pleasant scent in the pantry.


    Alternatively, as a natural repellent you can use bay leaves. The fresher and more fragrant they are, the greater their effectiveness.

  • Another great natural mix can be made with Orange peel fresh and gods cloves. The smell emanating from the two ingredients, very pleasant to our nose, is instead unpleasant to the flour moth that will be careful not to be stationed in your pantry.

By following these simple precautions we will avoid the unwelcome presence of these insects and throw away the infested food.

Lorenzo DeRitis

add a comment of How to preserve our pantry from moths and pests (meal moths)
Comment sent successfully! We will review it in the next few hours.