A tradie has warned Aussie residents after making a destructive discovery inside a wardrobe. Pest controller Jhy Carroll told Yahoo News he was called out to an “ant problem” in a Queensland home, but on arrival discovered it was actually something else.
The bugs were found eating rice inside a heat pack in the wardrobe, but the source actually came from dry food beetles in the kitchen. Worryingly, it’s thought the infestation was brought home from the supermarket.
Carroll, who runs pest control company EBS Queensland, said the bugs can make their way into the home from packaged foods like flour, rice, cereals and grains from the shops, “contaminating” everything in their wake.
It’s not just during the warmer months that the bugs are active, too — with Carroll warning that they are “active all year”.
Have you found a disastrous discovery in your home? Contact courtney.greatrex@yahooinc.com.
The bugs eating the rice pack originated from the kitchen. Source: EBS Queensland
He urged residents to check food from the shops before placing it in the cupboard to avoid the bugs infesting the home.
“The homeowner should check the food items at the shops visually to see if there are any beetles or weevils inside the bags,” he explained. “Rice bags can be placed in the freezer for a few days before moving them into the pantry.”
“Keeping all dry food products in lockable containers will also stop them from spreading throughout the other dry food items.”
Resident discovers ‘worst’ infestation in unopened pasta packet
It comes just weeks after another Brisbane resident was horrified to discover a putrid infestation of weevils in an unopened bag of pasta, describing it as the “worst” she’s ever seen.
Julian Bracewell, owner of Pest2Kill, said they are common in some manufacturing plants that store grains, which is how they end up in the home.
The bugs can find the smallest of cracks, openings, or even microscopic gaps in packaging, which allows them to infiltrate seemingly sealed bags. Once inside, they lay eggs directly on the food. The eggs hatch into larvae, which feed on the grains before pupating into adult beetles. Because they develop entirely inside the food source, infestations can go unnoticed until adult weevils start emerging.
In Australia, warm household conditions and long storage periods in pantries contribute to their presence. But when it comes to prevention, Bracewell said good housekeeping is more effective than relying on pesticides.
“Prevention is the best cure. Make sure packages are sealed, don’t leave things open, dispose of rubbish properly and keep surfaces clean,” he previously said.
To prevent reinfestation, health experts say all dry goods should be stored in airtight, rigid containers such as glass, metal or thick plastic, since weevils can chew through cardboard or thin bags.
Regular monitoring and the use of pantry pest traps can help detect any new incursions early.
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