What are flour mits?

Question

You find them in flour.

Answer 1

Finding tiny grey or brown insects or ‘mites’ on packaged foods like sugar or flour is becoming a common occurrence, showing how nature continually adapts and evolves.

These insects are PSOCIDS (pronounced so-sids), more commonly known as booklice.

They are harmless, 1 – 2 mm in length, sensitive to light and just visible with the naked eye. They may live for about 6 months in dark, warm, moist conditions.

Why have I got them?

They will usually have come into your home on your shopping, hidden behind labels or within the folds of paper packaged goods like flour, sugar, semolina etcetera.

Psocids feed on microscopic moulds which can develop in moist conditions on dry foods and the gums and glues used with some food packaging.

How do I get rid of them?

Remove and dispose of any affected open dry goods or paper packaged foods in the area you have seen the psocids.

Tins can be kept but remove and dispose of the labels and reapply your own, remembering to add any information on the recommended ‘shelf-life’ of the product.

In your food cupboards remove any shelves where possible, and vacuum or dry brush all vertical and horizontal surfaces. After replacing the shelves use a hair dryer to make sure the cupboard is completely dry inside, including at the shelf to side junctions.

Restock your cupboard but check the items, particularly those at the back occasionally over the next few weeks.

If more psocids are seen repeat the steps above and consider the position of kettles, cookers, and dryers to make sure moist air is not collecting in your food cupboards from these sources.

Answer 2

These weevils are horrible little things. I'm not vegetarian but don't care to go down this road to increase my protein intake! They live in anything with a flour type base, such as oatmeal (including porridge oats), rice, and anything with flour in it. I test everything before using by pouring a small quantity on to a plate and see if any particles are walking around! If they are I immediately dump it!

The only way I found to keep them at bay is 1) Keep every packet in a plastic bag sealed with a wire tie then 2) Keep the bags in tin boxes i.e. toffee tins, cake tins etc. It's an absolute pain to be bothered, every time you need anything, but the only way I found to stop them.

Good luck!

Answer 3

Flour is susceptible to infestation with weevils and beetles even in the cleanest kitchen. They enter the products and contaminate them before you bring them home. While the flour beetle and grain weevils make the product unappealing, they are not harmful.

To avoid infestation, store foods in tightly closed containers to keep the food source away from bugs. Use glass, plastic and metal containers with tight fitting lids. But, if you do get food bugs in your flour and dried grain products, here's what to look for and how to get rid of them:

Grain weevils, commonly found in flour, dried pasta, rice or other dried pantry staples are black, and about twice as long as they are wide. You will know them when you see them because flour doesn't have little black flecks in it when you bring it home from the store. Sift them out of flour or mixes that are only slightly contaminated. If the ingredient is riddled with weevils discard it.

Many people advise to place your flour in the freezer for several days before using (when you bring it home) to help prevent them, or you can use bay leaves in and around the flour cannister. Bay leaves keep bugs away and the flour will not take on the flavor.

Answer 4

u mean mites?
They're like hair lice, but lives on flour and other starch like things like cornstarch, oats, cake flour and mixes.

Answer 5

Bugs, like BO Weevils or something?.....