12 Natural Ways to Get Rid of Flour Beetles [Homemade Flour Beetles Spray]
Flour beetles are tiny insects commonly found inside stored food items like flour and whole grains. These tiny insects can quickly infest a pantry and contaminate food with their feces and shed skin.
They also create a pungent smell and contribute to mold growth in various food items. Therefore, it’s very important to get rid of these pesky insects from your home as soon as possible.
Since these beetles are commonly found in food, it’s always best to use natural methods to get rid of them, some of which are listed in this article.
How To Get Rid of Flour Beetles Naturally?
Below are12 effective natural ways to get rid of flour beetles. These methods include homemade natural spray, homemade trap and several other natural and homemade remedies to kill and deter flour beetles naturally.
1. Freeze to Kill Flour Beetles
Flour Beetles are sensitive to both heat and cold, so they cannot survive in extreme temperatures. If you expose them to extreme cold like in a freezer, the adults, larvae, and eggs will die.
Therefore, you can use the freezing method to get rid of flour beetles from contaminated food packages. Only use this method for small contaminations. If there is an infestation, you should throw the food away.
Required Items
- Freezer
- Airtight container
- Plastic wrap
Step by Step Process
- Pour the packet of food into an airtight container and close the container.
- Wrap the container completely with a layer of plastic wrap.
- Put the container in your freezer for 24 hours.
- After 24 hours, let the outside defrost completely before opening the plastic wrap.
- If the food item is a powder (such as flour), you can put it through a sieve to separate any dead beetles.
- If the food is not a powder, you must spread it on a tray and pick out the dead beetles manually.
Precautions
This method is effective for isolated infestations in packages or containers. For bigger infestations, you must use more thorough methods.
2. Expose Flour Beetles to Sunlight
Flour beetles do not like extreme heat, dryness, or sunlight. So if you leave any infested food out in the sun, they will start running away immediately.
The sun’s heat also kills any eggs and larvae inside the food, so there is no risk of further infestation.
This method is ideal for getting rid of flour beetles from food such as grains, flour, and nuts.
Food items that are heavily infested may not be fit to eat anymore, so this method is best used for small contaminations.
Required Items
- Large trays
- Airtight containers
Step by Step Process
- Pour the flour, grains, or nuts on a large tray and spread them out as much as possible.
- Set up a table outside in the full sun. Put the tray in the sunlight.
- Keep an eye on the tray to ensure that other pests are not attacking the food.
- Every hour you should mix and spread the grains or flour again.
- After 3 to 4 hours, you can bring the tray inside and pour the food inside an airtight container to store.
Precautions
Do not leave the grains or flour out in the sun for too long, because other insects may get attracted to the food items.
3. Vacuum
If you see a lot of flour beetles in your pantry or kitchen, one simple way to get rid of them is by vacuuming them.
Before you vacuum the areas, you must remove any contaminated food to prevent any further infestations.
You should also use preventative methods to ensure that the flour beetles will not return.
Required Items
Step by Step Process
- Start by identifying the areas that have been affected by the flour beetles. They usually live in and around dry food items like flour, cereal, sugar, etc.
- Vacuum up any flour beetle you see in the kitchen and pantry.
- Vacuum the storage shelves thoroughly to get rid of all the flour beetles.
- You should also vacuum any cracks, crevices, or holes in the kitchen and pantry since flour beetles often hide in those areas.
- Discard the contents of the vacuum far away from your home.
- While replacing the food items, make sure to use air-tight containers.
Precautions
You must throw away every container of infested food for this method to be effective.
4. Bleach spray as natural flour beetle deterrent
Bleach is a common household item that is commonly used to get rid of various insects. You can use bleach spray in your kitchen and pantry to get rid of any flour beetles.
The bleach spray will kill any flour beetles instantly upon contact, so it is a very effective method.
However, you must throw away any contaminated food to ensure that there are no further infestations.
Required Items
- Bleach
- Water
- Spray bottle
Step by Step Process
- First, you must figure out the source of the infestation. Any food packet or container that is infested with flour beetles should be thrown out.
- You should also inspect all the other containers and discard any contaminated food. Any unaffected food should be transferred to airtight containers.
- In a spray bottle combine ½ cup of bleach with ½ cup of water and mix them together thoroughly.
- Spray the mixture on your pantry and kitchen shelves focussing on the areas with the most flour beetles. The beetles that come in contact with the spray will die immediately.
- You can also spray the mixture into cracks, crevices, and holes in your kitchen since flour beetles often hide in those areas.
- Continue spraying the areas every day for a week or so to eliminate the entire infestation.
Precautions
You must throw away any infested food in your kitchen for this method to work properly.
5. Homemade Vinegar spray to repel Flour beetles
Vinegar is a common kitchen ingredient, but it is a very effective pesticide as well. You can kill various insects with vinegar including flour beetles.
Vinegar spray will kill the flour beetles immediately upon contact, so it is a very effective solution for a large infestation.
Vinegar spray is also completely non-toxic, so you can use this around food without hesitation.
Required Items
- White Vinegar
- Water
- Spray bottle
Step by Step Process
- First, you must locate the source of the infestation. Usually, flour beetles are found in containers containing grains, flour, and nuts.
- Discard any food that is completely infested with flour beetles. Check all the other containers, and discard any that have contamination.
- Combine ½ cup of vinegar and ½ cup of water in a spray bottle and mix well.
- Spray the mixture in every area that has been affected by the flour bugs.
Precautions
This method will get rid of existing flour beetles from your kitchen and pantry, but you must use preventative methods to get rid of them completely.
6. Bay leaves as flour beetles repellent
Bay leaves are commonly used as a spice in various dishes. It is very fragrant, which helps repel many insects including flour bugs.
If you put bay leaves in and around flour, grains, nuts, and other dry food, it will interfere with the pheromone trails of the insects, which will prevent more flour beetles from coming to the area.
Required Items
- Dry bay leaves
Step by Step Process
- If a Container of food is infested with flour beetles, you must throw out the food. Wash the container thoroughly before using it again.
- Put 3 to 4 bay leaves inside the container, then pour the flour, grains, or nuts inside.
- Add 2 to 3 more bay leaves inside the container before sealing it tightly.
- You can also put a few bay leaves on each shelf to keep the beetles out of the pantry.
- Replace the bay leaves every time you empty the containers. Replace the bay leaves on the shelves every two weeks.
Precautions
Bay leaves will repel adult flour beetles, but they will not kill any larvae or eggs.
7. Neem leaves as a natural deterrent to flour beetles
Neem leaves contain a chemical that can kill and repel insects.
Therefore, using fresh neem leaves is a great way to get rid of flour beetles.
Although the leaves themselves cannot kill any flour beetles, they can repel them and keep them away from the area.
Required Items
- Fresh Neem Leaves
Step by Step Process
- If there is an active infestation, you must remove any contaminated food and wash the containers with soap before using them again.
- Place a few neem leaves at the bottom of a container, then fill it up with the food.
- Mix a few more neem leaves into the food and close the container tightly.
- Spread a few fresh neem leaves in your pantry shelves to repel flour bugs.
- You can replace the neem leaves after a month or so.
Precautions
This method will repel any adult flour bugs, but it will not kill any larvae or eggs. So, it’s best to use this method for new packages only.
8. Garlic as natural flour beetle repellent
Garlic contains sulfur compounds, which gives it its pungent smell. The strong smell of garlic is extremely effective against various bugs and insects including Flour beetles.
When you leave raw garlic around food items, insects don’t try to attack the food. If you leave the garlic inside a food container, it may develop a garlic smell, so use this method carefully.
Required Items
- Raw Garlic
- Cheesecloth
Step by Step Process
- Throw out any contaminated food from your pantry to prevent any future infestation. Wash the containers thoroughly before using them again.
- Pour the fresh food into the container. Cover the top with a layer of cheesecloth.
- Put 3 to 4 cloves of raw garlic on the cheesecloth. Close the container properly before putting it back on the shelves.
- Cut a few cloves of garlic in half and leave them around the pantry or kitchen cabinet.
- Any flour bugs inside the pantry will go away due to the strong smell of the garlic.
- Replace the garlic cloves every 2 weeks or so.
Precautions
This method will keep adult flour beetles away from your food but it will not kill any eggs or larvae, so you must throw away any contaminated food.
9. Peppermint Oil
Peppermint essential oil has been used as an insect repellant for years.
The strong menthol smell can easily drive out various insects including flour beetles.
You can make a spray with the oil for your kitchen, or you can soak cotton balls to put in your pantry.
Required Items
- Peppermint oil
- Isopropyl alcohol
- Cotton balls
Step by Step Process
- In a bowl combine ½ cup of isopropyl alcohol with 2 teaspoons of peppermint oil.
- Soak cotton balls in the mixture and spread them around your pantry and kitchen.
- Put at least one peppermint-soaked cotton ball on every shelf.
- Close the pantry/cabinet door for 24 hours to let the peppermint work. Do not throw away the cotton balls.
- Replace the balls every month or when the smell starts to fade away.
Precautions
This method will get rid of adult flour beetles, but it may not kill any eggs or larvae, so you must throw out any contaminated food to prevent any further infestation.
10. Essential oil spray
Essential oils are known to have many therapeutic properties, but they are also great for repelling insects like flour beetles.
You can easily make an essential oil spray at home to use in your pantry and kitchen.
The strong smell of the essential oil also covers the pheromone trails, which will help prevent future infestations.
Required Items
- Rosemary oil
- Cardamom oil
- Isopropyl alcohol
- Spray bottle
Step by Step Process
- If there is a container in your kitchen or pantry that is contaminated with flour beetles, you must throw it out before starting the treatment.
- Combine ½ cup of isopropyl alcohol with ½ cup of water in a spray bottle.
- Add 10 drops each of rosemary oil and cardamom oil into the mixture. Shake the bottle to combine everything together.
- Spray the mixture on the areas that are infested with flour beetles in your kitchen and pantry. The flour beetles will immediately start running away.
- Spray the mixture every 2 to 3 days to keep the beetles from coming back.
Precautions
You must spray this mixture in your kitchen and pantry every few days to keep the flour beetles away.
11. Cinnamon oil
One of the best essential oils for repelling pantry insects is cinnamon oil.
The strong cinnamon smell can easily repel a number of insects including flour beetles from your kitchen.
The essential oil will also cover up any pheromone trail left by the insects, thus preventing any further infestations as well.
Required Items
- Cotton ball
- Cinnamon oil
- Coconut oil
Step by Step Process
- If there is an active infestation, you must identify the source of the infestation and throw away any contaminated food.
- Keep all the food in an airtight container before using this method in your pantry or kitchen.
- Melt 1 tablespoon of coconut oil and add 1 tablespoon of cinnamon oil into it.
- Soak cotton balls into the mixture and keep them on every pantry or kitchen shelf.
- Close the pantry or cabinet door and leave it to work for 24 hours. Any flour beetles on the shelves will go away or die.
- Replace the oil-soaked cotton balls every month to keep the beetles out.
Precautions
This method will keep away adult flour beetles, but it cannot kill any eggs or larvae. So, you must throw out any contaminated food items for this method to work.
12. Flour beetle trap
Male flour beetles are attracted to the females by the pheromone trail left by them, so it is the perfect way to trap them in a sticky trap.
You can easily find various pheromone traps for flour beetles.
They are very easy to use because you just need to leave them in your kitchen and pantry for a few days.
Required Items
Step by Step Process
- Start by finding the source of the infestation. Throw away any contaminated food to prevent flour beetles from growing in population.
- Open the traps and put the pheromone tablets in the middle of them.
- Set up the traps and put them around your pantry and kitchen shelves.
- Check back after 10 to 12 days. There should be a large number of flour beetles stuck to the traps.
- Discard the traps and lay new ones if you think it’s necessary.
Precautions
This method cannot completely eliminate flour bugs from your kitchen, so you must use preventative methods to get rid of them permanently.
Natural Ways to Prevent Flour Beetles
1. Store food in sealed containers
One of the ways flour beetles can get into your home is by contaminated food items. If you don’t store your food items in sealed containers, the flour beetles can crawl out of the contaminated packet and enter every other container.
So, it’s always best to store all your dry food items in separate air-tight containers. Doing this will prevent flour beetles from crawling in or out of the containers.
2. Clean your pantry regularly
Flour beetles are often attracted to your kitchen and pantry because they have a lot of food to eat. Even small scraps of food can attract flour bugs to your pantry and kitchen.
So, you should always keep your pantry clean and dry. It’s best to clean the kitchen and pantry space every 1 or 2 months to prevent any food spills or scraps.
3. Seal any cracks and crevices in your kitchen and pantry
Flour beetles often like to live in the cracks and crevices around your kitchen and pantry. They come out to eat food scraps and go back into the cracks again.
So, it’s very important to seal the cracks and crevices in your kitchen and pantry to prevent flour bug infestations.
4. Avoid storing dry food for too long
If you store a large amount of dry food in your kitchen or pantry, it will likely become infested with flour bugs and become inedible within a few months. Even a few flour bugs can cause a huge infestation if there is enough food for them.
Therefore, it’s always best to have smaller quantities of food in your pantry. Try to buy only a month’s supply of dry food items to avoid infestations.
5. Use a dehumidifier
Flour beetles grow rampantly during the wet season because they prefer humid conditions. Therefore, it’s very important to reduce humidity in your kitchen and pantry to prevent an infestation.
You can put packets of silica gel inside your pantry to absorb excess moisture. You can also use a dehumidifier during the wet season to keep the humidity below 40%.
Top 5 Best Natural Deterrents for Flour Beetles
Final Words:
Flour beetles can easily ruin a bag of stored food items in no time by contaminating them. They also multiply rapidly and spread throughout a pantry within a few weeks, so they are incredibly invasive.
Additionally, they can also lead to mold growth in your kitchen, which can lead to multiple health issues.
Therefore, it’s very important to get rid of these tiny insects from your home as soon as possible. We hope that the natural ways to get rid of flour beetles mentioned in this article are helpful to you.
