They have attacked all my flour and whole grain products! I bought a loaf of bread, and within 3 days it was swarming with these little fellas. Some might say they are weevels, but they are so much tinier that I presume weevels to be. They're about the size of an ant, maybe a fraction larger.
What should I do? And can anybody identify this? Thank you
2007-11-08 05:48:39 · 9 answers · asked by Brad 3 in Food & Drink ➔ Cooking & Recipes
sounds like some type of grain weevil or flour beetle (Confused Flour Beetle).
You need to clear out your cupboard, throw out all your opened grain products and wash down the cupboard. For unopened stuff, throw it in the freezer to kill off any eggs or just throw it all out and start off fresh.
The bugs probably came in through the flour you bought.
I'd recommend taking the new stuff and throwing in the freezer for a week before storing in the cupboard. Also, use large ziplocks or plastic bags to store the products individually, sort of like a quarantine for each package.
2007-11-08 05:53:14 · answer #1 · answered by Dave C 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
weevels, mites, mealys, types of beetles.. Best way to cure is remove everything from cabinets, disinfect and sanitize (bleech, bleech, and more bleech.... do NOT use bug spray, especially in cabinets food will be stored.. it is not safe, I dont care what your bug company tells you, ask any oncologist)
Then store all food products in AIR TIGHT containers. Do not leave flour in the bag folded over. Put it in an air tight container. Make sure it is air tight. Not all plastic wear and stuff like that is air tight. I use glass or metal canisters/jars with a rubber seal bw canister and lid that closes with metal clamps.
2007-11-08 09:41:51 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
grain weevils!!! get a big bottle of bay leaves and spread them around over the shelves. Take all grain products you have out and toss them.
I use plastic ice cream barrels to store all grain products in. I put a couple of bay leaves in the bottom of the container, put in the cereal or flour, then put the lid on tight.
2007-11-08 05:55:44 · answer #3 · answered by Nana Lamb 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
They are Mealy bugs (at least that's what we call them in Georgia). The only thing I've found that works is to store all of your flour, meal, bread, etc. in the fridge. I've never had a problem with them since. Good luck!
2007-11-08 05:53:04 · answer #4 · answered by Mom to 4 Weims 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Throw all flour products every thing needs to be kept in the fridge spray bug spray in all cabinets clean>And keep looking for them>
2007-11-08 06:02:01 · answer #5 · answered by 45 auto 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
the are weevils or flour bugs. the only way to get rid of them is to basically through any open containers of things like flour, pasta, etc. out. you have to completely wipe down your entire surface. and then spary with bug spray.
i had the same problem, took the bug to the home fix it store and that's what they told me.
2007-11-08 07:24:42 · answer #6 · answered by Lisa H 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i've had this problem before, you can keep them away by putting dried bay leaves in your flour and pasta...supposedly there's something in the bay leaves those things don't like, im still in the process of learning if this works or not but i've had my flour with the bay leaves for a few weeks now and there's no sight of them.
2007-11-08 06:04:58 · answer #7 · answered by kiers 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It does sound like weevils or mites, are you sure they aren't ants, there are very small ones that you can't hardly tell are ants and different colors, are they black? I would suggest that you take it all out and spray it very good, wait a day or so and then replace the items.=====
2007-11-08 05:56:35 · answer #8 · answered by lana s 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Are you sure they're not potato bugs? click for pictures.
http://www.potatobugs.com/pix/index.html
Actually it sounds like everyone else is right. So sorry. That sucks. Bugs in the pantry are not fun.
2007-11-08 06:10:36 · answer #9 · answered by LadyMagick 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋