Food moth is the common name for several species of insects of the moth family (hereinafter - O.) of the order Lepidoptera (butterflies), domestic pests.
Among them the following varieties can be distinguished:
- Cocoa O. (Ephestia elutella, in everyday life is usually mistaken for clothes moth (Tineola bisselliella) due to the similar yellowish color of the wings).
- Flour O. (Pyralis farinalis);
- Mill O. (Ephestia kuehniella);
- Southern granary O. (Plodia interpunctella).
Caterpillars of all of the above species can feed on dry foodstuffs, such as:
- Cocoa.
- Cereals.
- Pasta.
- Flour.
- Sugar.
- Dried fruits.
- Bread, etc.
One way to control household pests is to set traps.
Where do moths come from?
Even the most careful housewives may wonder how moths get into their homes.
It would seem that the shelves were in perfect order, everything was fresh and brought from a trusted store, but moths still appeared in the house. There are several ways moths can appear in a room:
- through an open window into the house that does not have a mosquito net;
- with cereals that were purchased from an untrusted place;
- through ventilation between apartments from neighbors.
Most often, it is these infection routes that are catalysts for the appearance of indoor moths.
Signs of appearance
First of all, the appearance of moths in the house can be detected by adult flying individuals. However, if you periodically inspect your property, you can find pellets in the cereals. These will be signs of the appearance of a moth, because this is a cocoon in which the caterpillar is located in order to turn into a butterfly and bear offspring.
Pheromone traps
Pheromone trap.
The principle of operation of such traps is that the pheromone component is attractive to moths. They fly towards the aroma, but end up on a sticky base, from which they then cannot escape.
There are a number of well-known manufacturers of chemical insecticides that also supply moth traps to the market. They may differ slightly from each other in their principle of action and main substance.
Prevention
Photo: eSovetnik.ru
The most reliable remedies against moths and their voracious larvae are sunlight, fresh air and low temperatures. At temperatures below 5 °C the entire moth colony dies.
On warm and sunny days, you need to wash and dry your clothes. Only store thoroughly cleaned, sun-dried or ironed items.
- Before storing woolen items, you need to bake them in the sun for several hours and knock out the dust from them. When exposed to sunlight, moth eggs die.
- After the end of the wearing season, it is advisable to take large items to dry cleaning. It is better to store clean sweaters, cardigans, pullovers and knitwear in plastic bags.
- Fur products cannot be placed in polyethylene. Without air access, fur loses its quality. In any case, adding anti-moth tablets and tablets will help.
- If there is any hope of saving a moth-infested item, then it should either be hung out in the sun or sent to the freezer for a day.
One last piece of advice: don't keep extra clothes in the house that you think will be useful later. Nobody needs old things, but they become the refuge of an entire colony of insects.
Aeroxon trap
One of the most sought after and popular traps for different types of insects.
Description and Application
The trap is safe and effective, and can even be used to remove moths from food products.
It is suitable for all subtypes of moths and removes them quickly and effectively. The Aeroxon trap has no smell, but attracts mainly males, immobilizes them and thereby prevents reproduction.
This product is very easy to use. You need to cut off the top part, remove the protection on the adhesive element and attach it to the desired area of the cabinet. It is also necessary to remove the front layer, which is held on by the sticky coating. The moth trap is now active and can act on pests for 6 weeks.
Reviews
I suffered from a moth infestation at my dacha every year. All you have to do is leave the cereal in the cupboard, it will fit into even the smallest crevice. But Aeroxin helped solve my problem, all the moths flew away very quickly.
Ira
Kemerovo
As if I moved out of my mother’s place, I immediately started a mole in my apartment. Just kidding, of course, she wound up on her own. It turns out that he can even get into a bag of cereals. On the advice of my mother, I bought Aeroxin, and after a few weeks the entire trap was completely covered with winged creatures. Excellent product, I recommend it.
Stanislav
Moscow
Peculiarities
Food moths feed on dried fruits, cereals, pasta, flour and any products made from it, starch, sugar and bakery products. Dried meat or fish can also be attacked by this insect. Chocolate, coffee and cocoa are also her prerogative. What this moth finds, it will spoil: its goal is not only to get enough, but also to lay eggs near all the listed products or directly on them.
The larvae emerging from the eggs begin to feed on food no worse than the adult: growing into a caterpillar worm, the larva spins a cocoon around itself. Then, turning into a chrysalis inside, it develops in it for several days, after which it comes out and begins to fly around the rooms.
Only the larvae actively eat food - they need nutrients in excess for further growth. At the stage of the pupa and adult moth, the insect no longer has a piercing mouthparts capable of piercing the bag in several places. However, sabotage begins with the laying of eggs: in a short life cycle, the moth already knows what it means to eat favorite foods and lay up to 400 eggs. One of the evidence that the moth has managed to manage the supplies is the thinnest web used to spin cocoons from it.
To prevent the proliferation of moths, like any insect, they are caught. They begin the hunt for moths (measures to destroy them) with a general cleaning of the kitchen. Spoiled products must be immediately thrown away - a significant part of, for example, buckwheat can simply be turned into dust, good for nothing.
Visual evidence is swarming larvae (caterpillars), say, in dry oatmeal (rolled oats). To get rid of moths, homemade and industrial traps are used, with the help of which the insect can be caught in the shortest possible time. The active substance of such traps is made harmless to humans - for example, it contains pheromones and/or glue.
Odorless raptor trap
Raptor trap.
A glue trap, which is ideal for installation in food cabinets, because it does not emit any odor perceptible to the human sense of smell.
Some of the best and most trusted manufacturers produce safe traps for any type of insects in the kitchen.
The set consists of two sheets, one of which is enough for 3 months of continuous use. Additionally, there are no fragrances, which does not attract people’s attention and makes such a trap invisible.
Reviews
Valery
Ustyuzhansk
I bought the Raptor when it was already in real trouble. They helped, surprisingly.
Alesya
Mirgorod
The Raptor is a little more expensive than some, but it certainly works.
Globol bait
An environmentally friendly pheromone bait with a remarkable decorative appearance.
Description and Application
Globol bait.
A notable feature of this unusual trap is its decorative appearance. Easily and without complications, a simple piece of cardboard turns into a comfortable house that looks quite aesthetically pleasing, because dead pests end up inside.
In a small closet, you can simply place the trap on the wall so as not to take up extra space. And in larger ones, you can separate the sticky part and wrap the rest in a house. The service life lasts about 8 weeks or until the moth has completely conquered the free space.
Reviews
I’m happy, even though I didn’t buy selectively, the first one I came across. I stuck it on the wall of the closet and forgot about the trap and the pests.
Igor
Vladivostok
While I was opening the trap, my finger got into the glue and got dirty. But moths also stick to it; in a month I collected all the pests.
Sasha
Tyumen
How to use?
The cheapest and most widespread type is the ribbon-shaped trap. It is rolled into a small roll in the form of adhesive tape. To use adhesive tape, unroll and cut the required amount of material. Remove the protective layer from the end - for this stickiness it is attached to a shelf, a plastic wall or ceiling, to a suspended ceiling profile (it is most often made of narrow strips of steel). The most popular place of application is the ceiling or hanging shelf.
Homemade insect traps
A simple homemade trap.
There are means to combat food moths that are easy to do at home. There is a way to make the same trap as a store-bought one, only at home. The main thing is that it has a sticky base on both sides: on one side - for fastening to parts of the cabinet, on the other - for sticking pests.
Another option is to cut a plastic bottle into two parts and place it with the neck inside . You need to pour the sweet composition into the container itself. It will attract pests, and they will no longer be able to get out.
Baitmate Fish Attractant Classic
Using real fish is generally considered the most effective method of attracting fish. This classic lure uses real fish pheromones, giving it a special edge over other options.
The bait assistant is a natural attractant. It uses natural fish oils to create a very seductive scent. Anise oil covers up any unwanted odors that may put fish off.
Fish pheromones present in the attractant excite the fish and turn on predatory instincts, which cause the fish to attack. Natural fish oils create a flavor that fish cannot resist.
The effectiveness of this type of pest control
Depending on which method of struggle is used, there is one feature.
Such baits only work on adults.
This means that the butterflies will stick, but the larvae will continue to eat their food and then become butterflies. You need to understand that efficiency directly depends on the area of the room that needs to be cleaned. A large cabinet will require a couple of decoys.
To ensure that food is protected from voracious pests, it is necessary to carry out a set of measures.
- This includes a complete and thorough cleaning of all shelves using soapy water or water and vinegar.
- It will be necessary to conduct a complete audit of all stocks, pour them out or sort them out manually.
- If the scale of infection is large, then it is better to mercilessly throw away all the groceries so as not to endanger your health.
In the article at the link you can read about 20 effective methods of ridding your home of moths.
Ways to fight
In order to get rid of food moths, an integrated approach is required, and both flying insects and caterpillars should be destroyed.
Important! Some people underestimate the harm caused by butterflies and fight only with the larvae. But in fact this is wrong! In a short period of time, one flying female alone is capable of laying about 160 eggs, from which new caterpillars will be born within 6-7 days!
- First of all, it is necessary to identify the source of infection. Go through all the food supplies, pour in the cereal, sift the flour, check the nuts for shell integrity. Pay special attention to products that have been stored for quite a long time.
- If a source of larval development is discovered, it must be treated or destroyed. This way you can get rid of the bulk of the pests.
- The remaining flying butterflies in bedside tables and cabinets, the eggs that they managed to lay, and newly hatched larvae are destroyed, as a rule, with aerosol insecticides. However, these preparations can be sprayed only after all food and utensils have been removed from the kitchen.
- And the last thing is prevention, adhering to the rules of which you are guaranteed to protect your home from re-infection.
Chemical control agents
There are a huge number of insecticides on store shelves that are designed specifically against these insects. These can be aerosols or drugs produced in solid form - tablets and powders.
The following chemical agents for food moths have proven themselves to be effective:
- Armol - this drug will help you get rid of adult flying insects, and it will act on them instantly;
- Raptor - this remedy is also quite effective against food moths. The aerosol can be used in the kitchen, spraying it on wood and other surfaces. It has a prolonged effect, the duration of which is about 12 months;
- Anti-moth "Raid" - this product allows you to destroy any type of moth living in your home, including food moths. The drug can be sprayed on clothes, carpets, furniture and kitchen surfaces. Valid throughout the year.
- Combat “SuperSpray” has proven itself in the fight against various insect pests, both flying and crawling. Using this product is as simple as all the previous ones: the solution is sprayed onto kitchen surfaces, in corners and places where moths accumulate.
With the help of these aerosols, the flying part of the population is destroyed. During the processing process, it is necessary to observe basic personal safety rules:
- put on a mask;
- protect your eyes with special glasses;
- do not smoke or eat during treatment.
All occupants and pets should also be removed from the premises. Make sure that the toxic substance does not get on your food.
Interesting fact! Food moth larvae can survive without food for a whole month. The only things they do not tolerate well are lack of moisture and sunlight.
