Home-stored product entomology
[citation needed] This field is related to forensic entomology, as consumers who find contaminated products may choose to take legal action against the producers.
Suitably qualified entomologists are likely to be able to determine the identity of contaminant species, even when no insects are found and the only evidence of infestation is the resulting damage.
Once they are present in areas with potential food sources, they can infest material such as flour, resulting in a sharp odor or moldy flavor.
Food products prone to infestation include flour, dry mixes, breads, cookies, and other spices.
The pupal stage is characterized by the unique process by which these beetles stick together pieces of food material to form protective coverings around their bodies.
A fully mature adult beetle, under optimal conditions, can live a maximum of four years, a long lifespan for an arthropod.
Coarsely ground grains, cereals, dried fruits, and herbs are common items the moths have been known to infest.
The adults have a distinct forewing pattern, as well, which consists of a light-colored base with about two-thirds of the distal area a red to copper color.
The larval stage of the moth's life cycle is centered on food sources; during the last instar, these larvae are characterized by a movement towards a protected area to pupate.
These caterpillars can chew through plastic packaging and will often produce silk that loosely binds to food fragments.
Tomatoes, melons, squash, grapes and other perishable items brought in from the garden are a common cause of an indoor infestation.
Fruit flies can also be attracted to rotting bananas, potatoes, onions and other unrefrigerated produce purchased at the grocery store and taken home.
Rarely, because of their ability to fly in and out of the home through windows and screens, they have the capability of contaminating food with bacteria and disease-producing organisms.
Some insects, like the drugstore beetle, leave telltale tiny holes in the damaged product, while Indianmeal moths are notorious for the spider web-like threads left behind in the food they infest.
The beetle may also impart a bad odor, which then affects the taste of the infested products, as well as encouraging the growth of mold in the grain.
These beetles do not sting, bite, or harm pets or damage a house, yet have the potential, in large infestations, to become a nuisance by flying on doors and windows in heavy populations.
Indianmeal moths infest both cereal and stored grain products, packaged goods, and surface layers of shelled corn.
The most telltale sign of the Indianmeal moth is the silk webbing the larvae (caterpillars) produce when feeding on the surfaces of foods.
Larvae are white worms with black heads, which, when ready to pupate, crawl up the walls of the home in most cases, and are suspended from the ceiling attached by a single silken thread.
An important aspect of the Indianmeal moth is that the larva is the only stage of the insect's life cycle to feed on stored products, the adults do not.
In 1938, the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act was established in the United States to provide a more defined reference based on strict limitations and methods.
[12] Major companies spend a large amount of money every year to aid in the prevention of food contamination.
Most of these dollars are well spent and do, in fact, prevent food from becoming contaminated on a large scale; however, many "defects" are found in consumers' meals on a daily basis.
The Food and Drug Administration states, "it is economically impractical to grow, harvest, or process raw products that are totally free of nonhazardous, naturally occurring, unavoidable defects".
Therefore, it is understood and regarded that all manufactures are allowed to have low numbers of insect and rodent hairs present in food, as long as the product is still considered "safe" for human consumption.
The expiration date of grains and flour must also be noted, as products that sit undisturbed on the shelf for an extended period of time are more likely to become infested.
In the home, putting cereal or grain-type items in protective containers will also help to prevent an infestation or the spread of insects from one product to another.
Using the oldest products first and buying grains and cereals in smaller quantities which can be used quickly, depending on the size or intake of the family, decreases the chances of infestation.
Adults moths can lay eggs under the lid of a jar, allowing the larvae to crawl into the food source when hatched.
Using a vacuum cleaner to clean the area thoroughly, especially in cracks and corners where insects may hide, will decrease the chances of re-infestation.
