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Author Topic: Off-Topic Indian meal moth infestation

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Off-Topic Indian meal moth infestation
OP: July 24, 2012, 09:39:10 AM
This is totally, totally off topic. Just one more thing to cope with.

I've had an infestation of indian meal moths, which lay their eggs in flour, couscous, rice and other cereals. I wanted to know if anyone out there had ever had similar problems, as I know that warmer parts of the states have a lot of this.

I've had a thorough clean of my kitchen, thrown anything away that was or could be infested, cleaned cupboards, on top of cupboards, under the fridge, larder (pantry), and put all tempting foods in hermetically sealed boxes. I've also put several sticky pheremone strips up (which only get the males), and killed all larvae/ moths that I find (this hurts my karma rating, but oh well.)

That was last Thursday. I'm still finding up to 10 moths a day, and I have no idea where they're coming from.

I'm assuming they don't like potatoes, onions and tea.

Any ideas?
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Re: Indian meal moth infestation
#1: July 24, 2012, 09:51:06 AM
Hi, Mermaid.  Here in the south we get little bettle type bugs (not sure what they are called) in flour, meal, etc.  I keep this type of stuff in the refrigerator.  I'm not sure if this is anything like what you are experiencing.  We also get moth's but in clothing.  A lot of places carry "mothballs" and treated cedar strips for the closets to keep them out of clothes.........doesn't smell great........but it works.

Hope you get some relief soon.

(((HUGS)))
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Re: Indian meal moth infestation
#2: July 24, 2012, 10:28:42 AM
they can hide under the lids of glass jars and in any cardboard packaging. I keep stuff in the fridge or freezer since my infestation. I would wipe out all the cupboards and leave them empty for a week. Arrrrgh.
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Re: Indian meal moth infestation
#3: July 24, 2012, 10:41:30 AM
Do they like tea?
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Re: Indian meal moth infestation
#4: July 24, 2012, 10:43:28 AM
not that i know of
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Re: Indian meal moth infestation
#5: July 24, 2012, 01:42:49 PM
Thanks FTT and  LoveMyMan,

I will leave everything empty or sealed when we go away next week. Until then, I can't.

American fridges must be much bigger; mine is big enough for dairy, meat and fruit, nothing more. So I'll just seal everything well, and check under lids (they've all been cleaned anyway).
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Re: Indian meal moth infestation
#6: July 26, 2012, 05:12:39 AM
They do like tea.


I've just chucked out some infested Earl Grey, and frozen all unopened or apparently uninfested tea (to kill off anything inside).
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