It is a nuisance when pests suddenly appear in flour and other dry foods. These are not always clearly recognizable. The faster you act, the easier it is to control the spread of unwanted residents.
How to protect flour from pests?
Flour can be attacked by various pests such as meal moths, meal mites and meal worms. To combat this and prevent an infestation, food should be stored airtight in glass containers, supplies should be checked regularly and cupboards should be cleaned with vinegar water.
Pest pests – general tips
If pasta, flour, rice and oatmeal are infested with pests, you should discard the affected food. Not all insects prove to be harmful to he alth. You can leave dry products riddled with eggs and larvae in the oven at 60 degrees for at least half an hour. Cold treatment for several days in the freezer is also possible. Both approaches ensure that the harmful insects die.
How to protect yourself from an infestation:
- store dry food in airtight glass containers
- only store as much flour as you can use in a short time
- Clean cupboards and shelves regularly with vinegar water
Flour Moths
The moths are characterized by silver-gray wings that have brownish markings. They are around 14 millimeters long and lay their eggs in suitable feeding substrates. If there is enough heat, the larvae hatch after 96 hours. They infuse the flour with excrement and fine webs so that lumps form.
Combat
The most effective method for eliminating flour moths are parasitic wasps of the genus Trichogramma (€19.00 at Amazon). There are cards available in stores that have eggs on them. These are placed in shelves, cupboards and pantries. After the beneficial insects have hatched, they look for moth larvae in order to parasitize them.
Flour mites
The mites, which are less than a millimeter in size, are characterized by their light coloring and long bristles. For their successful development from egg to adult, a high humidity of at least 60 percent and a substrate moisture of 14 percent are necessary. They tolerate a temperature window between ten and 35 degrees. If the conditions are suboptimal, permanent nymphs develop. Heavily infested foods give off a heavy, sweet and acrid smell. They are no longer suitable for consumption.
You can do this
Diatomaceous earth is well suited to treating flour mites' hiding places. Sprinkle the powder into all cracks near the infected products. Ventilate two to three times a day to ensure air exchange and reduce humidity. Grain predator mites are natural opponents of this pest.
Mealworms
They are a developmental stage of the flour beetle that places its sticky eggs in protected places. The clutches are difficult to recognize due to the accumulation of dust. Both adult beetles and their larvae feed on starchy products. Mealworms are light brown in color and are easily recognizable at this stage. If the flour becomes stringy and is no longer finely powdery, this may indicate an infestation. In this case, disposal and strict hygiene are necessary.
