6 Festive Holiday Treats That Attract Pests

Summary: Holiday treats are appealing to humans and pests! This blog discusses the 6 common holiday treats that attract pests, the reasons why the desserts are appealing, and the most common invaders. The featured desserts are: baked goods,  candy, chocolate, fruit, gingerbread houses, and popcorn. Green Pest Services provides personalized treatments for local homes and businesses.

At this point in the holiday season, our kitchens are filled with enough sweets to satisfy an elephant’s sugar cravings. Between the bags of festive candy and the plates of homemade cookies, we definitely have our fill of holiday treats. Unfortunately, we aren’t the only ones who love these seasonal desserts…

Pests are always hungry, so it makes sense that they wouldn’t take the holiday season off from eating our food. In fact, some of the most popular holiday treats are irresistible to these invasive species. Let’s learn which pests often eat these 6 sweets before we give our top prevention tips that will keep your sugary treats safe this season — and beyond.

Baked Goods

Common Invaders: roaches, ants, rodents

Cookies and brownies and and cakes, oh my! This time of year is filled with homemade treats that hit the spot after a hot meal. Pests also love baked goods because they need the sugar and carbs to keep their energy levels up.

Any baked goods that are left on the counter or kept in flimsy packaging — we see you, foil-covered paper plates — are vulnerable to pest invasions. We know those Christmas platters are cute, but if you have a lot of leftover baked goods, a lidded container would be best.

Candy

Common Invaders: ants, pantry beetles, roaches, rodents

Candy is a tasty treat year-round, but the enjoyment really ramps up during the holiday season. Keeping your festive candy in themed bowls or cute containers is perfect for a party or a family dinner. But the longer that candy sits out, the easier it is for pests to sneak a taste.

Similar to the baked goods, candy benefits pests by giving them the sugar and carb-based energy they seek. Ants have a pretty strong sweet tooth, so an idle bowl of candy is irresistible. When the party’s over, move the candy into airtight containers to guard them from hungry pests.

Chocolate

Common Invaders: rodents, roaches, pantry pests

Chocolate is usually kept in the fridge, but it’s worth mentioning for those who keep it on the counter. Fudge, brownies, and chocolate-based treats are both sugary and filling. Both of those qualities are exactly what these pests want, so it’s best to keep it all in the fridge.

Fun fact: mice love chocolate, but it’s actually poisonous to them! It may be a great bait in mouse traps, but that doesn’t mean we want them nibbling on the chocolate treats sitting in our kitchens. Keep the chocolate in the fridge to make sure it stays pest-free all December long.

Fruit

Common Invaders: rodents, ants, fruit flies

Fruit is definitely the most natural treat on this list, but that doesn’t make it any less exposed to pests. Fruit desserts, salads, and garlands usually sit out for a while, making them easier targets. Your aunt’s fruitcake would feed an army of ants — and then some.

As fruit ages, the fermentation attracts fruit flies. They lay their eggs directly in the mushy fruit to give their offspring a great food source. If fruit flies get into your warm house, they can be a problem all throughout winter. Refrigerate leftover fruit treats, and throw out spoiled fruit ASAP.

Gingerbread Houses

Common Invaders: ants, rodents, roaches

Nothing beats building a gingerbread house that you’d be happy living in! Whether you’re decorating one house as a fun couple’s activity or you’re participating in a fierce family competition, this tradition is one of the most delicious — for us and the pests.

It feels like a waste to toss your beautiful gingerbread house in the trash just to keep it from sugar-craving pests. Thankfully, you can protect your creation from pests without throwing it out. The fridge will be your best friend in this case. For extra security, cover the gingerbread in plastic wrap or foil.

Popcorn

Common Invaders: ants, crickets, weevils

Festive popcorn garlands and sticky popcorn balls are classic holiday treats (or decorations). The garlands are especially worrisome in terms of pest invasions since they sit out for the season. You really can’t make it easier for pests to have a tasty snack than this.

If you ask us (and maybe you are), edible garlands shouldn’t stay up for weeks on end. Pests will never willingly leave a reliable food source, so popcorn-based decor might not be the best choice. Make sure your popcorn treats are kept in airtight containers, and don’t leave popcorn garlands out for multiple days.

The Easy Steps To Pest-Free Holiday Treats

The last thing you need is a bunch of pests enjoying your holiday treats before you can! Luckily, there are easy tasks you can do to protect your desserts (and home) from invasive pests. We recommend doing these tasks year-round because they’re simple ways to guard your home against pests and keep your food safe!

Our top tips for keeping pests away from your holiday treats are:

• Use airtight containers. Store all baked goods and treats in airtight containers with lids. If you want to go a step further, keep them in the fridge for additional protection.

• Clean all crumbs and spills. After a baking session or a family dinner, make sure to clean up any crumbs and spills. Use your antibacterial cleaner of choice to remove any food residue.

• Store baking ingredients properly. To prevent pantry pests, store all of your baking ingredients in airtight containers. Flours, sugars, nuts, and chocolate are the most at-risk.

• Stay away from edible decorations. Cranberry garlands, candy canes, and popcorn garlands are traditional decorations, but we recommend using non-edible pieces. If you do want to use these food items, spray them with clear adhesive to eliminate the scent.

• Put party leftovers away. After a holiday party or dinner, make sure all leftovers are either put into (you guessed it) airtight containers or thrown away. Idle food is a pest’s paradise!

Visions Of Pest Solutions Are Dancing Around Our Heads

All of this talk about holiday treats is making us hungry — for reliable pest solutions! At Green Pest Services, our licensed technicians provide thorough services for each of our wonderful clients. We begin every visit with a full inspection in order to find any evidence of pest activity. These findings then inform the personalized treatment plan our team creates onsite. Pest control should never be a “one-size-fits-all” experience, so our treatments are tailored to solve your pest problems. We look forward to keeping your home or business pest-free this holiday season. For a free quote on our dependable services, contact us today!

Citations

Five surprising holiday traditions that invite critters and bugs inside. (n.d.). Orkin. Retrieved December 5, 2024, from https://www.orkin.com/press-room/five-surprising-holiday-traditions-invite-critters-bugs-inside

Harney, C. (2024, January 15). 6 pests with a sweet tooth. Romney Pest Control. Available at https://romneypestcontrol.com/6-pests-with-a-sweet-tooth/ (Accessed on December 5, 2024).