Grain Borer Control: How To Get Rid of Grain Borers

This page is a general is a Grain Borer control guide. Using the products and methods suggested you will get control of Grain Borers. Follow this guide and use the recommended products and we guarantee 100% control of Grain Borers.

Grain Borers can become a problem for homeowners and businesses.

Grain Borers are about 2 to 4mm in length. They can vary in color from reddish brown to black. They are cylindrical in shape.

They are commonly found near grains and packaged food goods. This means that they occupy food storing warehouses, grocery stores, and homes.

Grain borers may enter the home by being accidentally pre-packaged at commercial food packing facilities which they invade to feast on grains. Once in the home, they will move around looking for things to eat and places to lay eggs.

While Grain Borers do not bite, or sting, or even transmit diseases. They can bore into almost anything, from furniture to fabrics, to even paper. They will also contaminate food products and make them unusable.

Identification

Identification is the first step in control. Before you can treat you need to make sure that you’re dealing with Grain Borers. Below we’ll describe the common characteristics that set Grain Borers apart. It’s important to notes that there are two kinds of Grain Borers, Lesser or Greater (or Larger) their main difference is their size, they behave the same and create the same kind of damage.

• Can measure from 2 to 3 mm to 4 to 6 mm depending on whether if its a Lesser of Larger Grain Borer.
• Usually brownish red in color or black in color.
• They have a head shield that protects their head like a hood. From above their body looks like its composed of only two parts, the head shield, and abdomen.
• They have three-segmented antennae.
• Have wings and can fly.

Inspection

Inspection is crucial for control. Before you can apply the treatment you need to know the areas that Grain Borers are infesting. During the inspection, you will focus on finding the source of the infestation where the infestation began.

Where To Inspect

Start by inspecting the areas where you store food goods. Check your shelves, cabinets, and pantries. Check garages as well, if food is stored there. Check inside the food packaging of pasta, cereals, flour, beans, lentils, grains, herbs, rice, etc. Check pet food as well.

What To Look For

You’re looking for the contaminated item where the infestation began. Inspect all the packages of food goods mentioned above and areas where food goods are stored. You’re looking for larvae and adult Grain Borers inside the packages. Once you have discovered a contaminated food package with Grain Borers and larvae, this is where you will apply the treatment.

Treatment

Once you have confirmed Grain Borer activity it is time to begin treatment. Remember to read all product labels and follow the application instructions on these labels, and stay safe by wearing personal protective equipment (PPE).

Step 1 - Preparation

Before applying products you need to prepare the areas for treatment. In this step, you will get rid of all the contaminated products, and clean the areas for product application. You will need a vacuum and caulk.

Preparation

Begin by throwing away all the food goods found in the areas where the contaminated item was discovered. It’s important to throw away all the food goods in the cabinets, shelves, and pantries since there’s a huge possibility that many of them will be infested and you will not be able to tell them apart just by looking at them. Which is why it is best to throw away all the food goods away. After throwing away all the food goods, you will use a vacuum to clean inside cabinets, shelves, and pantries. Make sure to use it in the corners and in small cracks and crevices. Next, take a cloth soaked in soapy water and clean all the surfaces of the cabinets, shelves, and pantries. Use a toothpick to clean out the small pegs where screws go, these areas are notorious for holding eggs. Finally, use caulking to seal and close off any cracks and crevices found inside the areas where food goods are stored.

Make sure all food goods are cleared off the cabinets, shelves, or pantries and these areas are completely empty before applying products.

Step 2 - Indoor Treatment

Now you're ready to apply products. You will use three products, Pyrid, Novacide, and Pro-Pest Pantry Traps. Pyrid will be used a contact spray and as a space spray. Novacide is a powerful insecticide that comes with an IGR (or Insect Growth Regulator) that will affect the undeveloped stages of Grain Borers and prevent them from becoming adults. Finally, you will use Pro-Pest Pantry Trap to lure the remaining survivors into the traps where they will become stuck and die.

Pyrid

Pyrid is easy to use. Simply point and spray. Use as a spot spray by spraying 1 to 2 inches separated by a couple of inches. Spray in the top, bottom, sides, corners, and inside cabinets, shelves, and pantries, and other areas where food goods are stored. You can also use it as a space spray in walk-in pantries by spraying toward the ceiling.

Do not let people or pets enter areas sprayed until spray has dried or 15 minutes have gone by.

Novacide

Novacide comes in a ready to use aerosol spray. To use you need to hold the can upside down, and use as a spot spray. Spray in the same manner that you applied Pyrid, spraying 1 to 2 inches separated by a couple of inches. Spray in the top, bottom, sides, corners, and areas where food goods are stored like shelves, cabinets, and pantries.

Do not let people or pets enter areas sprayed until 2 to 4 hours have passed.

Pro-Pest Pantry Traps

This product is easy to use. Simply put the pheromone pad in the middle of the glue board. Next place in the areas where the contaminated item was found. You can fold it into a tent or leave flat. These traps should last about 3 months.

Prevention

Prevention is the final step in control. There are many things you can do to prevent Grain Borer infestations but start by transferring food products into tight-fitting plastic containers. By putting all food goods in tight-fitting plastic containers, you can prevent many infestations, and might even isolate a current one. Also, get in the habit of buying a week’s worth of groceries, instead of buying in bulk and leaving food goods sitting on shelves for months or even years.

The longer they sit undisturbed the more likely they are to get infested. Also, remember to check the packaging of food goods before you buy them, and do not buy products that have holes or are ripped, many times this could mean that they are already infested. Finally, use Pro-Pest Pantry Traps throughout the year to prevent future infestations.

Key Takeaways

• Remember that getting rid of the infested item is the most important step in control.
• Remember to get in the habit of only buying a week’s worth of food, and put food goods inside plastic containers.
• Finally, remember to read all product labels and follow the application instructions on these labels and stay safe by wearing personal protective equipment (PPE).