Pantry Pests: What to Know & How to Keep Them Out
If you’re buying organic whole grains, flour, legumes or other bulk foods — especially from Australian growers — you’re already making a choice that supports better food, better soil, and fewer chemicals in our lives.
But chemical-free goods can come with a trade-off: they can be more vulnerable to pests, especially in our warm climate. This doesn’t mean there’s something wrong with your food. It just means a bit of extra care is needed once it’s in your pantry. Here’s what you need to know to keep your food fresh and bug-free for longer.
Common Pantry Pests in Australia
These are the usual suspects:
Indian Meal Moth: Small moths that lay eggs in whole grains. Their larvae createwebbing in flours, oats, and rice.
Rice Weevils: Tiny beetles that burrow into whole grains like wheat, corn, and rice.
Sawtoothed Grain Beetles: Fast-moving brown beetles found in everything from flour to muesli.
Flour Beetles: Small reddish beetles that thrive in processed grains but will move into whole ones too.
None of these pests are harmful to humans, but they do damage food, cause waste, and can spread quickly through your pantry if not caught early.
Why Organic Foods Are More Susceptible
Conventional products are often treated with fumigants and residual pesticides that keep bugs away long after harvest. Organic and chemical-free goods aren’t — and that’s a good thing for our health and environment.
But it means pest eggs (which are microscopic and naturally present in the environment) are more likely to survive into storage. Without the right conditions, those eggs stay dormant. But heat, humidity, or time can bring them to life.
How to Prevent Pantry Pests
Here’s what we recommend:
1. Transfer to airtight containers
Our packaging is compostable — great for the environment, not great for long-term storage. Once you’ve opened a bag, move the contents into sturdy glass or plastic containers with tight-fitting lids.
2. Freeze new grains when they arrive
Place any new grain or flour in the freezer for 3–7 days. This kills any eggs or larvae before they hatch. After that, you can store the product as usual
3. Store in a cool, dry, dark place
At the Sovereign Foods Warehouse, we store all our grain and flour at 10º and below 50% humidity to ensure we don't get an outbreak, which would put all our growers hard work at risk. But we know that isn't always possible for everyone. The main thing is that you avoid - as best you can in Australia - anywhere that is prone to humidity and light. This means avoiding cupboards near the oven, stove, or dishwasher as these areas tend to get warm and moist — exactly what pantry pests love.
4. Only keep small amounts at room temperature
Keep just one month’s supply in the pantry. Store the rest in your fridge or freezer to extend shelf life and protect against infestations.
5. Inspect your pantry regularly
Check your containers every few weeks. Look for webbing, live insects, or chewed packaging. If you spot anything, isolate the affected products and freeze everything for 7 days. That’ll stop any spread.
What To Do If You Find Pests
Don’t panic — it happens. Especially in summer.
• If the infestation is small and caught early, freezing the affected items is often enough.
• If bugs are crawling or flying around your pantry, do a full clean-out. Dispose of affected goods, vacuum corners and shelves, and wipe surfaces down with a vinegar solution.
• Pheromone traps (available from most hardware stores) can help catch any lingering moths.
Final Thoughts
Pests are a natural challenge when working with real food grown without chemical treatments. With a few good storage habits, you can protect your pantry and reduce waste — all while continuing to support Australian growers and better farming systems.
Keep your pantry cool, clean, and sealed — and your whole grains will stay fresher for longer.