WHATCOM COUNTY, WA (MyBellinghamNow.com) – Many of us will be beginning to start up baking at this time of year. Whether it’s cookies for decorating, pies for parties and holidays or just making that loaf of bread on a cold, dreary PNW morning, you may not have touched the oven or the sack of flour until the temperature dropped.

Clearing out the cabinets or pantry and giving it a clean is a good idea at this time, as pests may have taken residence in the grains and sugars used for baking. Ants are easier to spot, but there are many other pests that love a dark cabinet to make their home.

If you do come across a bug in your food or cabinet, there are a lot of things you can do. But it is a good idea to figure out what creature you have in your home.

Beetles, moths and weevils are types of pantry pests that can cause you headaches if you don’t get ahead of their invasion.

Small beetles such as the weevil, flour beetle, saw-toothed grain beetle, drugstore beetle and cigarette beetle will be found in many dry-stored products such as flour, rice, cereal, spices and other dried items. You can become sick after consuming contaminated food as the critters use the items as nurseries for larvae, bedding and food as well as a toilet.

Indianmeal moths, sometimes called pantry moths, will leave silky webbing throughout dried packaged goods like the aforementioned items as well as dried fruit. These moths can be very difficult to get rid of.

When in doubt, it is good to call your local pest management company to get tips from the pros:

“A thorough inspection, removal of infested items and a deep cleaning in affected areas may be all that’s needed to solve a stored product pest problem,” Bio Bug’s Steve Cornwell said. “If the stored product pests are in hard to reach deep harborage areas, professional help may be required.”

Once your home is cleared of whichever pest you’re dealing with, remember to seal your dry-stored food products in airtight containers to protect against future infestations. It’ll also keep your cereal from going stale.