Pantry pests are a diverse group of insects that can infest stored food products. Here are common types of pantry pests that may be found in the Vancouver-Portland metro area:

• Indian Meal Moth: This pest will eat almost anything, consuming nuts, flour, grains, dried fruits, chocolate, pasta, and other dry goods. The larvae can eat through both cardboard and plastic.
• Merchant Grain Beetle: Also known as the saw-toothed beetle, this insect is a common pest of flour, dried fruit, and chocolate.
• Cigarette Beetle: Also known as the tobacco beetle, this pest typically infests stored tobacco leaves, but will also infest dried cereals, dried fruits, flour, and some animal products.
• Wheat Weevil: Also known as flour or grain weevils, these insects lay eggs within grain kernels. They are known for their ability to destroy harvested grain crops.
  Rice Weevil: Like the wheat weevil, this insect lays eggs within grain kernels. They eat rice, wheat, and corn kernels.