Comments | hammercock: alt.grainmoths.die.die.die

hammercock

alt.grainmoths.die.die.die

Feb 24, 2009 01:50

So, after coming home this evening to find 9-count-'em-NINE wormy things on the ceiling and then seeing more a little while ago, I lost my shit and started really digging into the cabinet that seems most affected. I threw away most of what was in there (including a bunch of dry pasta, because it was so old), kept what wasn't compromised, and put ( Read more... )

cleaning

Comments 16

pekmez February 24 2009, 15:35:08 UTC

Every time we've had enough of an infestation that there are larvae on the ceiling, it turns out that there is *something* full of the worms somewhere in the pantry, even if it takes 2 or 3 tries to find it. Throwing out the other stuff that has eggs staves off another hatching later, but if you haven't found the place those particular worms are squirming in, there's a chance it's still waiting for you somewhere. =(

kept what "wasn't compromised"??? chhotii February 24 2009, 15:39:36 UTC

Sadly, there probably isn't anything that isn't compromised. If you're seeing that many wormy things, give it ALL to the chickens. Keep the stuff outside until you get it to the chickens, to keep from re-infesting the kitchen; that you have the stuff in Ziploc bags isn't really meaningful.

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bedfull_o_books February 24 2009, 20:11:33 UTC

Grain moth worms *love* chocolate.... (Shudders at the memory.)

nminusone February 24 2009, 16:39:48 UTC

We dealt with grain moths this summer. It was a pain but fixable if you're methodical and thorough.

Get traps and spread them where you suspect infestation. They're more useful imo for finding hot spots than eliminating them. Pay attention to where you see moths. Ours migrated across the kitchen, or tried to, but only very slowly. Throw out what you can spare, and freeze everything else. (Cans are exempt, and ours *seemed* unable to live on beans.) Freezer space was a problem for us - if it's as cold there as I imagine it may be easiest to just bundle everything up and keep it outside for a week or 2.

Good luck! It's annoying as hell but fixable, at least in my experience.

koshmom February 26 2009, 16:34:36 UTC

Teas. especially herb teas.

Chocolate. I had to toss an UNOPENED yet compromised Mexican Hot Chocolate cube of chocolate tablets. Ouch.

Look for the telltale little "piles of dust". But I don't have to tell you that.

dry dog/cat food.

Clean out the tray under your oven (or do a "self cleaning" cycle) and also lift your stovetop and clean UNDER your stovetop. Often there's a way of getting at the drippan under the drippan.

Be persistent. They sure are! But I got rid of my infestation, and haven't seen them in a couple of years now.