Moth in croup: what to do when larvae and butterflies are found
All housewives know the detrimental effect on the state of things of the pest moth. This is a small winged pest that can very quickly destroy expensive fur coats, cashmere coats and wool sweaters. However, there is also a cereal moth that likes to settle in groceries, feeds diligently on it and makes cocoons for itself there for reproduction. Although it is not dangerous to humans, the damage it causes can be very noticeable.
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If dry bulk products are stored incorrectly, then you can be sure that sooner or later there will be food moth in cereal.
Moreover, it is not the butterfly itself that causes harm, it does not feed on reserves, but the larva. There are several varieties of moths in groats that differ depending on their taste preferences. However, don't be fooled: if a moth has destroyed one cereal, it very easily and with appetite moves to another.
Moth in products.
The moth is an ordinary nondescript small butterfly with gray wings. Most of all, she loves rice and buckwheat, grain or flour. But with pleasure, the pest will eat nuts, dried fruits, oatmeal, peas or even tea.
The flying individuals themselves do not live very long, about 5-6 days. They are no longer interested in food, but only water. She hides in dark places and lays her eggs. After 7-10 days, voracious larvae appear from the eggs, which cause maximum harm to the products.
Penetration routes
There are several ways for moths to enter a home. The most popular are:
- contaminated products from the market or store shelves;
- through a window from the street, if there is no special grid;
- through ventilation holes.
To minimize the risk of moths in your home, it's best to buy bulk groceries packaged or from trusted sources.
Harm from cereal moth
It would seem that if a butterfly does not bite and does not harm people, is not a carrier of any infections, then why is it called a pest. Food moth leaves larvae in cereals that feed on them. There they leave their excrement, as well as cocoons and dead flying individuals. Because of this, food becomes unsuitable.
Some housewives are wondering if it is possible to eat those foods in which moths have started.
No, it is better not to do this and, with a large scale of the disaster, immediately throw away all bulk products with signs of moths. But if the first signs have just appeared, then you can remove the top layer of cereals, sort it out as much as possible and sift it in order to throw out all the remnants of the pest's vital activity. If anything remains, then dry it well in the oven.
Food moth caterpillars.
Signs of appearance
Of course, the first and most visually recognizable sign is the appearance of flying individuals in an apartment or house. But you can find larvae in cereals much earlier if you look out for them periodically. Small pellets of cereals should alert: these are the nests of pests.
How to withdraw
It is very important to immediately proceed to the destruction of pests, as soon as its first signs have been detected. If a mole is wound up in the croup, it is necessary:
- Eliminate the breeding grounds for caterpillars, sift loose grains or sort by hand.
- If the larvae have been seen, then the groceries will have to be thrown away, it can be a health hazard to both people and pets.
Proper storage is the key to product safety.
- For prevention, all cereals can be calcined on a dry sheet in the oven or frozen in the refrigerator for a couple of days.
- To clean up the closet, you need to remove everything from there, and then wipe all the shelves and corners of the cabinets well with clean water and vinegar or laundry soap.
An important condition is the proper storage of bulk products in sealed jars.
Folk remedies
Folk remedies are effective and safe for people and pets. That is why hostesses resort to them in the first place. Here are a few ways on how to get rid of the cereal moth.
| Strawberry soap and lemon or orange peels | As you know, citrus peels spread a bright aroma that moths cannot stand. Such a repellent will reliably protect things and textiles from uninvited guests and flavor items in the closet. |
| Black and allspice, tobacco, cloves, rosemary | The spicy smell of allspice and other spices effectively repels moths and creates an unfavorable environment for breeding offspring. |
| Laundry soap | Potato and clothes moths cannot live normally and produce offspring if laundry soap is nearby. |
| Vinegar and garlic | Diluted vinegar is often used to treat cabinets as a preventive measure. Boxing garlic cloves works the same way. Butterflies do not tolerate persistent fragrant root. |
| Fir oil | The study of essential oils showed that fir oil was effective in the fight against domestic insects. The oil is applied to a cotton pad and wiped over surfaces where traces of moths were seen. |
| caucasian chamomile | Such a tool is used in dry form - a sachet of several grams is made and laid out around the apartment. |
| Chestnuts | Dried chestnuts are used to spread clothes and home textiles, thus preventing the appearance of butterflies. |
| Indoor plants coleus (nettle) and geranium (pelargonium) | These indoor flowers have a bright aroma that insects do not tolerate. Flowers scattered around the room will scare away insects and will not give comfort for reproduction. |
| Lavender | The fastest way to get rid of moths and other pests in the house is lavender and its oil. It has long been known to keep sprigs in all wardrobes, and to use lavender oil on surfaces and upholstered furniture. |
| Sagebrush | The smell of wormwood twigs has an unusual property: it is able to disorient adult moths in space, so the life cycle is disrupted and the pests disappear. |
| Газеты | Printing ink is known to repel insects. So, things placed in newspapers will remain untouched by harmful insects. |
| Vinegar | To treat surfaces with vinegar, two tablespoons are heated, then the hot liquid is placed in a cabinet for about 10 minutes. This time is enough to kill both larvae and adults with acid vapors. |
Funds from the store
Store-bought products are effective, but you need to be careful with them, because they can harm human health. They are not recommended for use on cereals.
Traps
Moth trap.
On sale there are special traps for insects. They are food safe because they do not emit toxic substances. The composition contains pheromones, which are extremely attractive to moths.
The butterfly flies to the smell and sits on a sticky surface, from which it is already impossible to escape. On average, one trap is enough for 3-4 months. The main thing is that it can be placed near food products.
Chemicals
There are aerosols, sticky tapes, or special dry powders that are instructed to be applied by spraying or setting where pest activity has been noticed. The most effective are Armol, Raid, Raptor or Clean House.
Moth preparations.
Preventive measures
- It is best not to buy food stocks of bulk products in large quantities, because this is extremely attractive to moths. However, if you still have to stock up, then you need to purchase them in trusted stores. It happens that even on an industrial scale, moths can severely damage grocery stores.
- If there is a suspicion that the products were under the influence of a pest and may be infected, then it is better to ignite them or leave them in the freezer for a couple of days. Store food in tightly closed jars. These can be metal or plastic containers.
- It is important to regularly carry out wet processing of all kitchen elements. This applies to lockers. It is necessary to thoroughly wash all corners, shelves and doors. If the kitchen has ventilation, then the grates should be with mosquito nets. In this way, you can protect the kitchen from moths, as well as from cockroaches, bedbugs and other insects.
It is best not to create comfortable conditions for moths and not to store dried fruits, groceries and tea nearby.
Сonclusion
The appearance of moths in bulk food is, of course, unpleasant, but not critical. This can be prevented by using simple and affordable preventive measures. If the moment is lost and you have to deal with insects that have already appeared, then you will need to start with sparing measures that will be safe for food and human health. Simple, cheap and effective means of struggle are always at hand.
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