How Do You Get Rid Of Flour Bugs (Some People Call them Mealy Bugs) HELP!!!?

Answer 1

Throw out the infested flour/cereal/whatever.

Answer 2

Forget the answers about insectcides and such. The bugs just come in the flour. Just throw everything away in the cabinet that is even remotly flour or grain based (bisquick, pancake mix,etc). Store whatever else is left in another cabinet. Take water with a bit of bleach and wipe out the infested cabinet. In a couple of weeks you can store all of the stuff back in the same cabinet.

Answer 3

Making some changes in how you store certain things will be your best bet to get rid of them. They'll eat flour, corn meal, things like that. I store my flour, corn meal, sugar, rice, oatmeal, grits, etc in airtight containers. There are somethings, like a whole bag of sugar or flour that won't fit in airtight containers; I put those things in the freezer. Your freezer is an excellent place to keep things that you don't use very often. Don't worry about them freezing too hard to use; only moisture freezes that way. Your powders like that will only get really cold. :-D

Answer 4

use airtight containers and throw in some unwrapped spearmint gum slices. Do not buy in bins. Check the container when you go to the store. Best yet, if you buy large amounts of flour, put them in large mason jars and use your seal a meal to fasten the tops. Nothing will get into the flour.

Answer 5

Use rubbing alcohol with a Q-tip and apply to all mealy bugs every few days until gone or apply Safer soap ulltra fine oil spray

Answer 6

Sanitation is the best method of control and prevention at present. Removal of all cereal refuse does away with possible breeding places for the insects. Therefore, controlling insect pests in stored cereal products should include the following steps:

Discard all infested foodstuffs and place all newly purchased flour, sugar, breakfast food and similar products in canister-type containers.
Thoroughly clean the cupboard and storage bins of all refuse material. Be sure to clean out the cracks along the shelves and top of the cupboard. Scrub out these areas with soap and water, adding a little household disinfectant.
Purchase foods in quantities small enough so they may be used up rapidly.
Keep all food storage space clean at all times.
Spray the shelves or other infested areas lightly, particularly cracks where shelves and cupboards come together. Suggested insecticides include resmethrin, sumithrin, tetramethrin, permethrin and pyrethins.
Caution: All foodstuffs and cooking utensils should be removed before spraying. All sprayed surfaces should be allowed to dry thoroughly before packaged foods or utensils are placed back. Small children should not be allowed to come in contact with the insecticide until the sprayed surface has dried completely.
When spray dries, cover shelves with clean, fresh paper before replacing packaged food and utensils.

Nonchemical control: Either destroy the infested products, or salvage them by heating in an oven at 130 degrees Fahrenheit for one-half hour, or super-cooling by placing in a deep freeze at 0 F for four days.

Answer 7

we used to keep all of our flour, pasta, sugar, etc... in the freezer. It was the only way for us to prevent the bugs. The worst thing was to open up a box of mac 'n cheese and dump the contents in the boiling water and have tons of those little bugs float to the surface.

Answer 8

Throw the old flour out, and buy new, then keep the flour in the freezer. This works wonders...

Answer 9

i live in the country and go through this every year...you are not alone!

put everything in sealed containers (flour, sugar, pasta, salt, cereal, EVERYTHING)
the things you don't have a container for put in the refrigerator.

empty your cabinets....leave your dishes on the counter, leave the cabinet doors opened

rid-x bug bomb your house (follow directions)

go to the hardware store and find some outdoor bug spray, follow directions on this and spray completely around the outside of your house, make sure you get under your porches and as much as possible under your house

make sure when you spray the outside of your house after the hottest part of the day is over....works much better this way.

also make sure you stay out of the house the entire time you are supposed to & turn off your air conditioner & fans & close all of your windows & open all of your cabinet doors

all of the pests will be gone after this but still keep your dry goods in sealed containers, because the gross litter buggers keep coming back!!

(you have to re-wash all of your dishes....i reccomend pouring boiling water on everything you can...just to be safe)

Answer 10

you have to throw out the infested flour and start over. If you keepit in a canister you need to wash it out really well, before you put any new flour in it. Make sure that the canister you store it in is air tight.
I heard that if you put a silver (not stainless) spoon in it it keeps them out. I don't know if it works or if it just a old wives tale!