pantry moths

[nezzie]

I'm trying to cut down/eradicate our pantry moth population

Comments

[nezzie]

I never had them until about two years ago...I don't have a horrible problem luckily, but I still don't want eggs on things and larva crawling around...bleh! I've put up with it for too long - no more!

[klia]

After freezing the seed for 2-3 days, I put it in sealed plastic containers (like Rubbermaid or Ziploc), and never had a problem with moths. It might help if you cleared out and cleaned (with vinegar and water or Dawn and water) the whole area where the seeds have been stored to get rid of any eggs that might be around. And maybe put the seeds somewhere away from the rest of your food stores (like maybe in a kitchen drawer or small cabinet) so you don't risk them getting into everything.

[nezzie]

Luckily they have only remained in the bird room and have not gotten anywhere else! I was actually thinking about purchasing containers for their seed earlier this week, too, and I'll give the area a good vinegar/water scrub down. I love cleaning with vinegar in a weird way, heh!

[iguanasrevenge]

Hmm... I am not really sure what pantry moths are, but in the last apartment I lived in, my exHusband was having clothing moths eat his undies and socks. We got some cedar bedding and made cedar sachets.

We hung them everywhere, cleaned very very very well, scrubbed, and the little buggers never came back.

I still use the cedar sachets in the linens closet and my bedroom. They seem to work well. His being a slob didn't help his bug problem though.

Would using cedar sachets or cedar blocks help in a pantry maybe? Most insects don't like cedar. The only bug that comes around my apartment now is spiders. No roaches, ants, crickets, beetles... nothing. I don't use pesticides either... birds and tarantulas won't like it.

[nezzie]

I haven't thought of this yet, thanks for the tip! I like the smell of cedar, too. Beats a pesticide any day. I didn't know it could affect ants and roaches, we live in a half above ground basement made into an apartment and get these fairly often.

[cyaneus]

For what it is worth, my folks had a TERRIBLE seed moth infestation--like a hundred in every room--and pheromone traps were the only thing that worked. Took about a year, but they're all gone now.

[nezzie]

Holy Expletives!...and I thought seeing four around in one room was bad. On a bad day I've seen maybe six either flying or on the wall/ceiling, and I run around catching them. I know there are more, of course, since more pop up the next day. I don't think it's that bad, and luckily its only one room. Eesh!

[squishie89]

They will spread to other rooms, and they will breed. Don't underestimate the little buggers.

[888mph]

Yup, happened to me too. The pheromone traps were a god send.

[squishie89]

You might need to freeze your toys as well. I had to do that.
We have had luck with sticky traps like these- http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=5059+20783+5994&pcatid=5994 And they are really easy to set up, just keep away from your birds. Also throw out bags from bird stores, moths LOVE creases to lay the babies in, and bags are perfect for that. And keep up with cleaning the cage trays.

[squishie89]

and they say "lasts for 3 months", but, if your sticky trap is covered in moths, it doesn't work so well and you need to replace it.

[nezzie]

Those are the exact traps I'm looking at. Thanks for the bag idea, that is so obvious that I feel embarrassed ;) I'll probably stock up on a few traps as I don't know how many moths we really have and how many eggs could be around...yuck!

[squishie89]

It isn't until you have moths for a long time, do you learn their tricks. Also check your ceilings, where they intersect with the wall, that is another favorite of theirs.