Food moths are not only a problem of open porridge bags. Larvae Plodia interpunctella They drill tunnels in grains, move to dried fruit, and even inhabit the gaps in furniture or household appliances. Here are their favorite hideouts:
- food packaging: even the smallest gap in plastic or cardboard is an open gate for the larvae;
- Behind cabinets and shelves: adult moths like to lay eggs there, using shade and peace;
- in the recesses of kitchen appliances: scattered flour in a dishwasher drawer or crumbs in the oven? It’s the perfect place for their hideout.
Before melting the whole kitchen, pay attention to subtle signals:
- A cobweb networks and lumps of excrement: You open a packet of rice and see delicate threads or small, broken leftovers? This is a sign that the larvae is already working;
- Flying moths in the evening: adult moths sway in flight, attracted by light – especially after dark;
- Progle smell of products: infected nuts or dried fruit can have an unpleasant, rancid aroma, and their consistency becomes lumpy;
- Stopped content of the packaging: larvae produce mucus, which sticks flour or porridge into non -cepethical blocks.
If you notice at least one of these symptoms, don’t hesitate – it’s time to act.
Fortunately, science and practice offer an arsenal of tools to fight food moths. Here are the most effective methods that will allow you to regain control of the kitchen.
1. Chemical insecticides
Dinotefuran with diatomite, amorphous silica, or pyretryna with silica are a real larvae conquerors. Studies show that in laboratory conditions they reach 84-89% of the mortality of wandering larvae Plodia interpunctella. Apply them in the slots of the walls, with skirting boards and around the places where you store food, but always with safety rules.
2. Diatomit – a natural killer
Diatommous soil, or diatomite, is a powder of microscopic algae shells, which acts like an acute insect trap damages their cleaners and dehydrates, leading to their death. Studies confirm that diatomit lamps eliminates 83-100% of larvae within 7 days on corn grains. If you combine it with products heating up to 50-60 ° C (e.g. in the oven), the effectiveness increases to almost 100%. This is an ecological solution that does not require chemistry.
3
Load traps soaked in synthetic sex pheromon is a clever way to capture males and monitor the scale of the problem. Regular checking of traps will allow you to locate the epicenter of the invasion. An even more sophisticated approach is the so -called mating disorder (mating disruption). It consists in releasing large amounts of pheromones that will confuse males, preventing them from finding females.
Prevention is better than cure – this old proverb perfectly suits the protection of the kitchen from mols. Just a few simple steps to effectively protect stocks from these bothersome pests. The first is freezing of newly bought products, such as flour or porridge. Putting them into the freezer (-18 ° C) will effectively kill eggs and larvae for 3-4 days before they get off. Thanks to this, we minimize the risk of infestation from the very beginning.
The next step is storage of products in tight containers. An investment in glass or plastic containers with solid gaskets is an effective way to cut moths from food. It is equally important to regularly clean the kitchen – vacuuming cabinets and wipe them with water with vinegar or soap allows you to remove food residues that can attract larvae.
You can’t forget about stock rotation. The consumption of older products as the first and avoiding storage of dry goods for more than 6 months prevents the accumulation of potential moles.
