PestAware Advice Sheet Sick of Stored Product Insects (SPIs)?

British Pest Control Association ‘Sick of Stored Product Insects?’ pest awareness advice

BPCA is the trade association for prevention advice, and help you find and are packed with practical the professional pest management an appropriately trained and trusted advice and tips for getting to sector. It’s our role to help everyone pest management company. Our grips with British pest species. understand the importance of PestAware guides are designed proper pest control, provide pest for home and business owners Version 1. December 2019.

bpca.org.uk/pestaware 01332 294 288 Driving excellence in pest management @britpestcontrol Sick of Stored Product Insects (SPIs)? Pest advice for controlling SPIs

Have you brought something home from the shop riddled with insects? “The main reason we control SPIs is the incredible Opened an old bag of flour to find damage and contamination they cause to it’s tainted? Are you a manufacturer of food products and you want to foodstuffs, raw materials and finished products.” keep them safe from infestation?

Stored product insects (SPIs) are a huge concern that there is an entire one of the top pest concerns branch of forensic entomology in food production and In this guide dedicated to studying it. storage across the globe. ƒƒ The dangers: why we control SPIs Unlike with most other pests, Whether you’re thinking about ƒƒ Risk to businesses there is no significant health doing some DIY flea pest control ƒƒ Types of SPIin the UK risk to humans from SPIs. or you’re looking to enlist the help ƒƒ Habitat: how SPIs of a professional pest management choose a home The biggest concern is company, this guide is for you. ƒƒ The tell-tale signs contamination of food by the SPIs are about insect, its cast skins or pupal ƒƒ SPI biology and behaviour casing. That’s an extra crunch in ƒƒ Appearance your cereal you don’t want! ƒƒ Mating and lifespan ƒƒ What do SPIs eat? Psychological distress is also ƒƒ The difference between a factor that needs to be SPIs and other insects considered, as some people will ƒƒ How to prevent SPIs find it hugely upsetting to find ƒƒ Getting rid of SPIs insects in their foodstuffs. ƒƒ DIY pest control ƒƒ Professional pest control ƒƒ Finding a pest controller to get rid of SPIs.

are a type of beetle that we’ll also be covering in this A to Z. Broad-nosed weevil. Weevils are a type of beetle and are a common SPI in the UK. The dangers: why we Home stored product entomology, control SPIs the study of insects which infest food products stored at home, The main reason we control deals with the prevention, detection and eradication of SPIs. Stored product insects are exactly SPIs is the incredible damage what they sound like: insects that and contamination they cause live and breed in stored products, to foodstuffs, raw materials like whole grains or processed and finished products. Risk to businesses foods, and even tobacco. The financial loss associated with SPIs not only eat these products, SPIs is enormous. It’s believed There are many types of SPI in the they breed in them and can spread they are the world’s ‘most UK, with the two most common quickly, contaminating a huge expensive pest’, costing billions being beetles and moths. amount of product which is then each year in additional operating unfit for human consumption. costs and loss of product. Another type of SPI we come across in the UK are weevils, which Contamination of foodstuffs is such Businesses that handle any kind

4A Mallard Way, Pride Park, Derby, DE24 8GX Page 2 +44 (0)1332 294 288 @britpestcontrol Sick of Stored Product Insects (SPIs)? Pest advice for controlling SPIs of cereal, grain or dried food The range of stored product insects ƒƒ Larder beetle products are at risk of infestation worldwide is pretty vast. In the UK, ƒƒ Mill moth. from stored product insects. we have two common types of SPI: Habitat: how SPIs That includes supermarkets, ƒƒ Beetle choose a home restaurants, food processing facilities ƒƒ Moth. and food storage warehouses. Stored product insects can enter Some SPIs, like the Khapra the food chain at any point and they They can cause the recall of beetle, are considered invasive don’t do this just to eat the products: products and the expense species worldwide. they make their home in them too. involved in issuing a recall, plus

Negative reviews can undermine a company’s reputation and lead to financial loss. discarding infested or damaged products, is very high.

Environmental Health Officers Although it is not currently This is their harbourage, can also issue enforcement found in the UK, products that where they will breed and notices to business owners have a chance of containing complete their full life cycle. who don’t have adequate pest Khapra beetles are subject to management procedures in place. quarantine in places like the US. You may have noticed, many SPIs are named based on the type If not complied with, these can Confusingly, weevils are actually of product they usually infest; lead to fines or even a stint in a type of beetle and some stored biscuit beetles, rice weevils, jail and a criminal record. product beetles can often be red rust flour beetles, misidentified as weevils. booklice and so on. REMEMBER! SPIs WILL INFEST DID YOU KNOW? There are currently around The tell-tale signs CLEAN HOMES A fear of insects is known 97,000 known species of that SPIs are about TOO as ‘entomophobia’. weevil around the world. The first sign of a stored product Just a few stored product insects insect infestation is almost always that are common in the UK include: the adult insect; moths flying around And let’s not forget: poor reviews or small beetles in the cupboards. of businesses or products are ƒƒ Rice weevil easily viewed and shared online, ƒƒ Biscuit beetle Some people may unwittingly making reputation management ƒƒ Indian meal moth think that getting rid of these will a key consideration. ƒƒ Grain weevil solve the problem, however the ƒƒ Confused flour beetle other life cycle stages may still be Types of SPI in the UK ƒƒ Saw toothed grain beetle alive and well in your pantry.

4A Mallard Way, Pride Park, Derby, DE24 8GX Page 3 +44 (0)1332 294 288 @britpestcontrol Sick of Stored Product Insects (SPIs)? ` Pest advice for controlling SPIs

These other stages (Egg, Larval and presenting as a reddish-brown What do SPIs eat? Pupal) aren’t always that easy to spot. colour and others brown-black. Stored product insects will infest Other signs are: The larder beetle is very an incredibly wide variety of distinctive - black with a white stored products; grains, flour, 1. Damage to packaging and band across the middle. rice, oats, cereals, dried fruits, products is a red flag, for pasta, biscuits, nuts, dried herbs, example, weevils leave visible The most common stored product spices, dry dog food, fish food, exit holes in grains and moths in the UK are around tobacco, and bird seed. moth larvae have chewing 7-9mm in length and have a mouthparts, which they wingspan of between 15-20mm. They also bore into whole grains will use to cause damage and kernels, leaving distinctive to food and packaging The exception is the Warehouse holes in which they lay eggs. 2. Moth larvae will also leave Moth, which has a slightly webbing, which they will smaller wingspan. spin as they feed and CYCLE OF A BEE move through products Those weevils common to LIFE TLE ies the most common s 3. The webbing not only stored products can reach typif tored tline pro ou du contaminates products but around 2-3mm in length. ad ct s ro pe s b EGGS ci hi es can also cause considerable T Hatch in 1 to 2 weeks damage to machinery They have and equipment indentations on 4. SPIs will cause food to ‘taint’, their thorax which which is visible as discolouration gives them a ‘dotted’ 5. Grain that is infected tends to appearance. become warmer which can lead to damp, mould and Mating and LARVAE ADULTS even grain germination lifespan Growth in 4 to 16 weeks 6. Track marks in dust or flour from Can live for anything adult insects is also a giveaway As there are so from 3 to 24 weeks 7. Frass is the excrement of many different species of insect larvae and is another SPI, it’s difficult to talk common sign of an infestation. through the life cycle in PUPAE specific terms. Development in 1 to 3 weeks

DID YOU KNOW? However the following The larvae of the Indian meal image shows an overview of moth have the ability to bite the average life cycle of the through plastic and cardboard. most common forms of SPI.

All common stored SPI biology and behaviour product insects go through a complete Appearance metamorphosis: There are so many different types of stored product insects, 1. Adult> and so appearance varies. 2. Egg 3. Larvae Most common species of stored 4. Pupae. product beetle average around Indian meal moth (Plodia interpunctella). 3mm in length, with some

4A Mallard Way, Pride Park, Derby, DE24 8GX Page 4 +44 (0)1332 294 288 @britpestcontrol Sick of Stored Product Insects (SPIs)? ` Pest advice for controlling SPIs

containers. This will ensure insects quickly through your property It is believed cannot get access to the food inside. in search of other foods such as that 90% of dried fruit, rice and cereals. all life forms Regularly use a vacuum cleaner on Earth could to get rid of food debris in Usually the initial source of the be insects. cupboards, removing that tempting, infestation can be traced back easy-to-access food source. to partially used products that have been forgotten in the What if you find an SPI in a product backs of pantries and shelves. you’ve purchased from a shop? That bag of flour you used If you believe that you have for one cake and then didn’t narrowed down the source of use again? Yeah, you know the infestation to a particular what I’m talking about. product, you should return it to The difference the store you purchased it from. The most effective step in between SPIs and eliminating an infestation is to throw other pest species Inform the management, so that they away these infected products, can investigate and implement their preferably into an outside bin. Stored product insects are just a own control measures if necessary. small array of the vast insect class, which is estimated to contain Then deep clean your cupboards, between six and ten million species. They will also need to inform pantry or anywhere food has suppliers so that it can be Stored product beetles and weevils can usually be distinguished established where the insects from other types of beetle by entered the production process. size, as well as habitat, as they are commonly much smaller. Getting rid of SPIs Stored product moths are often identified incorrectly DIY pest control as other types of moth. This causes control issues, as For any stored product insect someone may kill or catch infestation in a business, we and release an adult moth Store products which come in flimsy without realising there is a would always recommend packaging in sealed containers. larger infestation present. contacting a professional pest management company. been stored, thoroughly cleaning How to prevent SPIs They are trained in SPI control up any spills or food debris. and will have access to a range It’s not possible to prevent of professional use insecticides Professional pest control SPIs, as you won’t know you’ve and tools, which are not purchased an infested item until available to the public. Qualified pest management you bring it home and use it. professionals understand Knowing how much, where, and the habits and life cycles of However you can help prevent when to deploy products is where stored product insects. future problems and the spread professionals are able to take of any infestations, through good control of situations efficiently. They will have the knowledge and storage and hygiene practices. experience needed to recommend However, an infestation in the home effective and targeted treatments. Store all food products which is relatively simple to manage, come in flimsy packaging, such as providing it has been discovered A technician will fully explain cardboard or plastic bags (cereal, early. Once in your home, stored the treatment process to you dry pet food etc), in tightly sealed product insects will spread before starting work.

4A Mallard Way, Pride Park, Derby, DE24 8GX Page 5 +44 (0)1332 294 288 @britpestcontrol Sick of Stored Product Insects (SPIs)? ` Pest advice for controlling SPIs They will then leave a report, noting what pesticides have been used and where, plus any post-treatment advice needed.

They will arrange follow-up visits, if required. This will depend on the type of treatment used and the level of infestation.

Food businesses

It’s important for businesses dealing with food, particularly in the early stages of production, to take preventative measures against SPIs. humidity reduces insect activity Fumigation isn’t a residual There should be a professional and stifles fungal development. treatment so although it will kill pest control contract in place, the adult pests and their eggs, it which includes a monitoring Fumigation does not leave a barrier to protect programme for pests using traps, Fumigation is the process against re-infestation once other which indicate if and when to treat. of releasing a gas to destroy life cycle stages are complete. pests which may be infesting Other routine measures, such as a building, product, a vehicle If fumigation were chosen as a treating empty grain stores between or an item of furniture. treatment option then it should be batches of grain, can help prevent carried out as part of an integrated infestation. Keeping temperatures It’s a job which requires a very pest management (IPM) approach. cool (10°C or below) can reduce specific qualification and skill set, the rate of reproduction, while low only to be done by professionals.

BE PROTECTED. PROFESSIONALLY. How do you know your pest management contractor Find a pest controller is fit for the fight? A BPCA member company will be able to treat infestations British Pest Control Our member companies meet or quickly and safely. Association is the trade exceed all legal and ‘due diligence’ association for professional requirements and comply with They can help minimise pest pest management activity with a range of companies in the UK. the most current legislation. techniques and have the technical knowledge and By choosing an audited No other trade body experience to apply products BPCA member you can be gives you this security. in an efficient manner, while assured that the services minimising risk to the environment you receive are from Make sure you stay safe. and non target species. a trained and trusted company that meets our Select a BPCA member. You can find a BPCA member, strict membership criteria. local to you, using our Find a pest controller tool.

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