Kitchen pests in New Hampshire

Yes, silverfish graze paper, glue, and starched fabric — but it's slow surface etching, not destruction. Here's what's really at risk, and what isn't.

No — bed bugs don't chew or destroy fabric. They feed on blood and leave fecal staining that mostly launders out. You don't need to throw out your mattress.

Yes, crickets nibble soiled fabric and wallpaper paste, but extension research is blunt: unless dozens are present, the damage is usually too minor to notice.

Roaches shelter in appliance motors for warmth and moisture, not to destroy them. Device damage is rare; the documented risk is cockroach allergen and asthma.

Yes, bed bugs leave dark fecal staining in mattress seams and furniture joints. It's cosmetic and mostly launderable, not damage requiring replacement.

Flour mites are a food-storage problem, not an infestation to spray. Discard infested flour, switch to airtight containers, and freeze new dry goods first.

Grain mites in pantry bins are a storage problem, not an infestation to spray. Discard affected goods, switch to airtight bins, and cut pantry humidity.

Recurring dampness under a kitchen sink grows mold, and mold mites follow. Fix the leak and dry the cabinet within 48 hours — that ends it, not a pesticide.

Pantry mites in grains and flour signal a storage problem, not an infestation to spray. Discard affected goods, seal storage, and rotate stock to fix it.

An open kitchen remodel is a rare chance to see hidden wood before it's sealed for 20 years. Inspect while open and fix leaks first — not a reactive spray.

Spraying your pantry for flour or grain beetles does more harm than good. See why extension experts say discard and clean instead, and where chemistry fits.

Pantry pests usually arrive inside the groceries you buy. The sourced airtight-storage, freezing, and FIFO checklist that keeps stored-product beetles out.

Pheromone traps only monitor pantry beetles — the real fix is finding and discarding infested food, then freezing or sealing what's left. Honest, sourced steps.