Skip to content

Stored product insect control

stored product insect control services
Services > Pest Control > Insects > Stored Product Pests

Avoid the risks of stored product pests

Stored product pests, also known as Pantry pests, are various insects and other creatures that infest and feed on dry, processed, and stored food products commonly found in business storage areas, as well as household pantries and cupboards.

The most common stored product insects (SPI) are various beetles and moths, along with booklice. Businesses that handle any kind of cereal, grain or dried food products are at risk of infestation from stored product insects and can face serious financial loss and reputational damage as a result. Don’t put your business at risk.

pest control in food business

Protecting food manufacturers and warehouses from stored product insects

We understand that stored product insect (SPI) infestations are more than an inconvenience. From beetles in packaging to moth larvae in flour, SPIs can quickly ruin valuable stock and compromise your reputation.

Our proactive, sustainable, and tailored pest control solutions help food manufacturers, distributors, and retailers:

  • Identify infestations early
  • Remove insects quickly and effectively
  • Prevent future outbreaks through monitoring and proofing

Common store product insects we control

The food industry is at risk from the presence of stored product insects, which can contaminate food, compromise products and damage reputation. Our eco-friendly services reduce the risks to your business or home, without compromising the environment.

Effortless

Our tailored approach to stored product pests

Our technicians will fully explain the proposed treatment before starting work and arrange follow-up visits if required. After identifying the species and scale of infestation our tailored plan may include non-chemical heat treatments or space treatments using food-safe insecticides. We can also implement control methods such as cleaning, sealing entry points and recommendations on storage and ventilation that comply fully with food safety guidelines.
1

Inspection

We’ll attend your premises to determine the species and root cause of the problem and draw up a management plan.

2

Elimination

Once any housekeeping or proofing issues that have led to or exacerbated the problem have been rectified, one of our technicians will complete a thorough treatment of the area to rid you of the infestation.

3

Proactive control

We will arrange periodic visits to monitor pest activity and maintain traps (some of which can be monitored remotely) to give you peace of mind. And we can train your staff to spot early signs of any future infestation.

commercial pest management

Stop stored product insects before they damage your business

Stored product insects are one of the most common – and most overlooked – threats in food storage and processing. A single outbreak in flour, grains, or packaged goods can quickly spread across your site, leading to wasted stock, failed audits, and reputational damage that takes years to repair.

We know the food industry inside out. From bakeries and mills to warehouses and production facilities, we’ve helped businesses tackle everything from flour beetles and rice weevils to Indian meal moths. Our technicians work strictly within UK food safety regulations, so you can be confident every treatment is safe, traceable, and audit-ready.

If you have a problem with stored product pests, give us a call on 0800 783 0011 and we will attend at a time that offers the least disruption and put together a treatment plan to resolve the infestation.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the signs of a stored product insect infestation?

Look for small insects, larvae, or moths in food packages, damaged or chewed packaging, webbing or silk, unusual odours, or clumped/powdery grains and flours. Spotting these early helps prevent infestations from spreading.

Which stored product insects are the most common in commercial settings?

The most common stored product insects in commercial sites include flour and grain beetles, weevils, pantry moths, cigarette and biscuit beetles. These pests can contaminate food, damage packaging, and cause stock loss if not managed promptly.

Which businesses are most affected by stored product insects (SPI)?

Any business that produces or handles dried food products, grains or cereals is at risk of loss from stored product insects. This includes supermarkets, restaurants, and food storage warehouses, as well as food manufacturing and processing facilities.

How can you prevent SPI’s?

You can help prevent future problems and the spread of any infestations through good storage and hygiene practices.

Stop insects gaining access to the food by storing food products which come in flimsy packaging, such as cardboard or plastic bags (cereal, dry pet food etc), in tightly sealed containers.

What is a stored product pest?

A stored product pest is an insect that infests and damages stored food, raw ingredients, or packaged goods. These pests can be found in warehouses, food production facilities, retail stores, and even domestic pantries. Common examples include beetles, weevils, pantry moths, and flour pests.

Stored product insects can enter the food chain at any point, and they don’t do this just to eat the products: they make their home and breed in them too. Some species can eat their way through packaging to gain access to food.

Most stored product insects fall under either beetles or moths.  These have four stages to their life cycle (egg, larva, pupa and adult) and simply eradicating the adult insects will not be enough to get rid of an infestation.