How to tackle stored product insects with expertise and data insights

Stored product insects (SPIs) are pests that infest food products in storage facilities, warehouses, and homes. These tiny creatures can wreak havoc on businesses by contaminating food, resulting in financial losses due to product damage and waste. Stored product pests in the U.S. have the potential to harm or consume nearly 10% of all food produced, while in developing nations, this amount can exceed 50%.¹

Implementing effective pest control measures can help businesses prevent SPI infestations before they start. Professionals in stored product pest control can identify vulnerabilities, provide guidance on best practices, and use targeted treatments to keep these pests at bay. By addressing the issue proactively, businesses can maintain product quality and a cleaner environment for their customers and employees.

The problems with SPIs

Stored product insects (SPIs) are a unique group of pests that not only damage food but also live and reproduce within it. Some common SPIs are the granary weevil, confused flour beetle, cigarette beetle, Indian meal moth, cheese skipper, and booklouse. Unlike other pests, SPIs are not significantly affected by seasonal weather because they thrive indoors and can often go unnoticed until it’s too late.

When SPIs infest food, they can easily be spread throughout the supply chain as products are shipped. Food can be vulnerable at every stage, from the farm all the way to the table. While in storage, these stored product pests not only eat some of the food but also damage it, reducing its quality, altering its taste, and promoting mold growth, including harmful types that produce toxins.

SPIs reproduce quickly and can lead to significant losses for businesses. An infestation can affect the ingredients' properties, causing them to have a bad taste, reduce nutritional value, and even clump together in production lines, which can jam machinery and lead to costly repairs and downtime. Moreover, if businesses don't manage these pest issues, they can face inspections from third-party auditors or government agencies, risking their certifications and even potential plant shutdowns.

SPIs are a symptom of a condition

The presence of SPIs is a symptom of a problem—failure to implement basic sanitation practices. Inspecting incoming food deliveries, rotating stock, and keeping storage and production areas clean are key to protecting your facility from stored product pests. Your property could be giving them the perfect place to shelter, eat, and breed. 

SPIs live in a world of odors and have evolved highly tuned senses to detect and find food sources. Even packaged food is not safe. One tiny hole or bad seal in a packet can give off sufficient odors to attract SPIs. Some species, such as the larvae of some moths and adults and larvae of some beetles, can even tear through packaging materials like cardboard, paper, and plastic film. 

To help ensure food safety, food businesses should start with strong sanitation procedures. This means training staff and thoroughly cleaning all areas, including storage and waste disposal. It's crucial to focus on every corner of the facility, especially hard-to-reach places and hidden spots that can attract stored product insects, like shelving or machinery. Aim to clean more every four weeks to stay ahead of pests’ life cycles.

Using data intelligently

To tackle stored product insect infestations effectively, Rentokil uses digital pest data to gain vital insights about each customer’s space. By pinpointing pest hotspots and reviewing detailed reports on pest species, trap types, and timelines, we can uncover the root causes of infestations. Our data-driven strategy enables us to craft a personalized pest control program for every facility by blending various techniques and products such as:

1. Monitoring: We will utilize specialized monitors to track stored product pest types and their activity levels. This strategic monitoring will help us establish control thresholds, enabling us to take timely action and effectively manage pest issues.
2. Chemical treatments: When needed, we'll use specific chemical treatments targeted at the pests we've identified through our data analysis.
3. Non-chemical methods: In addition to chemical treatments, various non-chemical strategies, such as environmental controls and enhanced sanitation practices, may be used to help deter pests.
4. Expertise: Our pest control technicians leverage their understanding of pest behaviors and habitats to implement effective management strategies that address current infestations and potential risks.
5. Data and insights: Integrating data and insights is central to our pest management program. By tracking pest activity over time, we can identify trends and pinpoint hotspots within the facility. This ongoing analysis allows us to understand how infestations evolve, enabling us to determine precisely where control measures are needed at specific times. 

By leveraging data and insights, employing a hybrid approach of chemical and non-chemical treatments, and utilizing professional expertise, we can create a stored product pest control program that addresses infestations and proactively prevents future occurrences.

A smart solution

Stored product insects are different from other food pests. They’re a constant, year-round threat – eating, breeding, and damaging raw and processed food supplies stored indoors. They are “always on.” Businesses also have to be “always on.” They need to ensure they have strict checks, controls, and sanitation procedures in place—otherwise, they’re giving SPIs the freedom to infest and harm the business.

Data analytics empowers our experts and technicians to better understand a business's pest risks and how to overcome them. Using knowledge about insect biology, technology, and data, our technicians can develop a tailored stored-product pest control plan to help keep these unwanted pests at bay.

¹Information sourced from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the University of Wisconsin.