found in a bag of flour. They are tiny, almost invisible to the naked eye, and are a a very very light bright brown/beige in colour, definitely not fleas as they crawl along quite fast but easily squashed. We thought they were weavils that live in flour, but have now found them in books, in food such as breakfast cereals, in the bread bin. Again I thought weavils, because I know that they can be found in old books, they live on the startch in the binding glue. They are very light sensitive and as soon as light is shone on them or you disturb them, they seem to go into hiding within the tiles, work top etc.
My wife is going frantic, and the has sprayed disinfectant onto a clothe and wiped all the areas we've seen them. But they come back very quickly, as soon as they can hide in the darkness.
Can anyone tell me what they are, how did we get them, and most importantly, what we can do to get rid of them? Please help....
2006-08-18 11:20:01 · 10 answers · asked by Anonymous in Home & Garden ➔ Other - Home & Garden
weevils.don't know how to get rid of them, sorry.hope you do tho.
2006-08-18 11:27:09 · answer #1 · answered by missy k 6 · 0⤊ 2⤋
I wish I could offer some accurate advice about what these creatures actually are... you're right, they sound like weevils, but tough weevils! Could be a super-species! If they're anything else, it's beyond my ken. Hope you didn't make anything with the flour before you discovered them.
It's a shame that the only way to get rid of creatures like this seems to be chemicals. I would try fly-spray, ant-spray, whatever... I think there's a kind of beetle spray that you can squirt along tiles, and then beetles can't cross it- not that it's 100% reliable or anything, but it might work, if you can find a place that stocks it. Living in the country, this sort of thing is pretty close to hand where ever you go to shop, I don't know if it will be as available in the towns.
I'd be interested to find out what happens- I wish you luck! I mean, I try not to kill insects if I can, but the situation you're in sounds ridiculous.
2006-08-18 11:32:58 · answer #2 · answered by Buzzard 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
They sound like dust mites. They're a nuisance, but harmless.
They probably came in some old flour. All you can do is put all the food that you can into plastic containers. Then hoover the kitchen, all the nooks and crannies, and empty and clean the dust bag. Then steam clean the whole kitchen, if you have a steamer.
Something like anti bacterial fridge cleaner or just diluted Flash wiped over will pick up a lot of them. They will be around for a while, don't freak out! Just keep the dusty food in airtight containers and wipe up any spills. If they have nothing to feed on then they'll eventually die out even if you do nothing.
I know you find this creepy, but your house is full of insects. Most of them are completely harmless and it doesn't mean you're dirty. Its just real life.
DONT use poisons in your kitchen where you store and prepare food. The dust mites are harmless but poison isn't.
2006-08-18 12:43:56 · answer #3 · answered by sarah c 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I should just call out the local pest control department and tell them you have a manifestation of ticks. On humans ticks can get below the skin surface and leave extremely itchy track marks. They can also lay there eggs ready for hatching on an animal or human host. Indeed they can live off a human host.
Ticks are not fleas. Fleas can jump or leap very quickly as well as crawl also fleas can not live on a human being as they have to have an animal host. A tick is a fast weaver and it scurries at the sign of very bright lights unless it happens to be feeding.
If you have a dog or cat take them to the vet for specialist treatment as nothing can be bought over the counter to solve this problem at the pet shop.
Whatever you do, do not eat or bake using the flour or any related products until you have cleared your home of these parasites. If you feel that you have accidently eaten them visit your GP for an internal antibiotic and some laxatives. Ticks can also lead to very fine thread or tape worms in humans as well as any pet you may have. If you have them you will most certainly have regular diahorea and stomach upsets and an itchy bottom.
If you have a pet that seems unduly agitated and itchy take it to the vet who will expertly comb through and physically remove any ticks lodged in the skin. Do not try to do this yourself, they do not brush off easily.
There is also such a thing as a flour mite, which survives in old stale flour. They are grey tiny pin head size mites which are just visible to the eye. Spring clean the whole kitchen and clear out old rice, flour sugar etc. Old bricks are also home to the brick mite these are pin head sized and red, spraying external bricks with a strong detergent ie, bleach - should discourage them and updating a damp course treatment should deter there return. Redecorate and paint shelving that adjoins any brickwork or stone work. If this is the problem don't worry about the tick issue above.
Steam cleaning also kills these types of mites inclusive of the dust mite. But warning if fleas and ticks are the problem steam will merely hatch any lavre or eggs. Not sure call out an expert.
2006-08-18 14:16:51 · answer #4 · answered by Nosey parker 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well it's definitely an infestation, they still sound like weavols of some sort. I'd call an exterminator.
2006-08-18 11:26:17 · answer #5 · answered by DEATH 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They ARE weavils. In order to get rid of them, you have to completely clean out all wheat and grain based products from your cabinets. Throw it all away, outside not in the kitchen trash. After that, fumigate your cabinets. When you go shopping again, buy some tupperware containers to put everything in.
2006-08-18 11:27:39 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Depends on where you live, and how big the biggest of them are, but my guess is your first guess is the right now. Sounds to me like it might be time for you to fog or call in the Orkin man. hehe.
I'd definitely eat out until the problem is taken care of.
2006-08-18 11:27:10 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
get some universal bug killer... from canadian tire or walmart.. should take care of those lil creatures. You can also get resteraunt friendly bug killer... which would be good arorund your food. but more expensive
2006-08-18 11:26:29 · answer #8 · answered by Laura 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
bin any food that they can get in and bleach everything
and disinfectant
phone pestcontrol
2006-08-18 11:27:40 · answer #9 · answered by est 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
shockin man need to get some sort of fumigators in probably a bad idea living in the same house if ye dunno what they are could be a alien attack
2006-08-18 17:10:29 · answer #10 · answered by G m 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋