Storage Pets

How do storage pests establish in your household
Storage pests, generally, establish in your household, by one of the following two means:
- Storage pests can enter your household if you purchase infested items
- Pest build-up can also happen when you store or keep susceptible items under poor storage conditions
Often, the damage caused by these pests goes unnoticed as they infest the items which are not in regular use. By the time you notice the pest occurrence, you may lose your stored product partially or wholly based on the pest infestation level. If the infestation is significant, the taste, flavor, and quality of food will be altered too. Sometimes it creates a favorable atmosphere for the development of secondary pathogens fungi and bacteria, which can cause allergic reactions to sensitive people.
Signs for presence of storage pests
Major Storage Pets
Beetles

Cigarette Beetle
Important pest of tobacco and thus derives its common name from it. It also feeds on processed products of tobacco (raw dry leaves, refined cigarettes, cigars, and chewing tobacco)

Khapra Beetle
This is one of the world’s most destructive pests that attacks a large number of stored products (both animal and plant origin). Hence this beetle is in the quarantine list of most countries.

Drugstore Beetle
Prefer to feed on herbs and medicinal plants, which are common in the prescription of drug preparation. This pest is known to bore tin, aluminum, and lead sheets.

Flour Beetle
This beetle usually does not damage the whole grains and is found more in broken bits and flour.

Carpet Beetle
Pest of fabrics and similar items. Cause allergy to sensitive people when they use fabrics infested with this beetle.

Pulse Beetle
Pests of legumes like beans, peas, grains, and other foods.
Weevils

Rice Weevil

Rice Weevil
Moths
Angoumois grain moth: It is an occasional pest of stored grains, especially on corn in the field and other food products.
Mediterranean flour moth: larva feeds on food source by spinning the silken webs.

Indian Meal Moth
Common moth pest of stored grains.

Cloth Moth
Occasional pest of fabrics (cotton, silk, wool, furs, bristles in brush, hair, feather, etc.). Pests mostly attack wool. They also attack blended fabrics. Pests do not usually attack synthetic materials such as polyester or nylon.
Mites
