Is it possible to eat the mole in the cereal. Effective folk remedies for food moths in the apartment

The kitchen is the holy of holies of every good housewife, and uninvited "guests" are treated with hostility here. Especially if it comes about real pests like kitchen moths. These nosy insects climb into the most secluded corners where groceries are stored: cereals, flour, sugar, and arrange their nests there. And the most offensive thing is that its appearance practically does not depend on your efforts to maintain cleanliness in the kitchen, or on any other conditions. Moles in cereals can enter your home from a grocery store or market where food has been infected with its larvae. Therefore, it is almost impossible to prevent her "visit". It is all the more important to know how to get rid of moths in cereals as soon as possible.

How does food moth start, and what is the harm of food moth
Food moth has several names: bread moth, barley moth, and just grain moth. By the way, the latter name is the most common in the scientific world, which may come in handy when looking for means to combat this insect. With the moth that spoils the fur coats of the wardrobes, they are relatives, although not close (from different families), but they are similar in appearance: the same medium-sized size up to 1 cm in length, the same nondescript gray-brown color. However, you still will not confuse food moths with any other, because it settles, as in famous saying, "Closer to the kitchen." For shelter and reproduction, insects choose jars of cereals, flour, tea, as well as stocks of nuts and dried fruits. There the food moth lays microscopic eggs.

So catching obsessive gray butterflies that flicker before your eyes and periodically fall into a cup of tea, of course, brings a certain amount of variety and extreme evening gatherings in the kitchen, but does little to eradicate the pest. Even if you manage to slam the nimble moth, somewhere in the bowels of your kitchen cabinets, its offspring probably lurked, ready to go outside and "take revenge." Therefore, the elimination of the grain moth must begin exactly there, destroying it in the embryo, that is, in the form of eggs and larvae. By the way, they are the ones who get into the house unnoticed along with the bulk products bought in the store or on the market. Less likely, but not excluded, the content of moth eggs in packaged cereals. Another moth's path to your apartment is from neighbors from whom you borrow cereals or other groceries. Finally, a small butterfly may well fly into an apartment through an air duct or window. In general, there are several options, but the most likely one is still purchased cereals and legumes that were stored in improper storage conditions or were poorly cleaned in production.

Adult insects do not eat our products, they are only interested in them as suitable place for the development of their offspring. From the laid eggs larvae appear, which eat cereals, leave feces, scales, dead particles in them ... In general, they make the products completely unappetizing and even hazardous to health. And the butterfly you noticed is a sure signal that it is time to conduct an audit in the buffet, which with a high degree of probability will reveal these uninvited inhabitants. Most likely, most of the inventory will then have to be thrown away. First, together with them, you will take out the lion's share of pests from the house. Secondly, who wants to eat "bitten" nuts and legumes, spoiled cereals and tea, as well as flour mixed with insect waste.

In fact, the grain moth is not a carrier of any specific diseases, but the harm it causes is quite enough to wage a direct fight with it. In food enterprises, it should be carried out in the form preventive measures: sharp cooling or heating of grain. For example, at a temperature of about -10 ° C, the mole will not live longer than two to three days, and at 60 ° C, not a single caterpillar survives in an hour and a half. In addition, before the shipment of grain, chemical disinfestation (destruction of insects) is carried out, but it is already undesirable for the products themselves. In any case, if you got a batch infected with moths, it means that at some stage the manufacturer worked in bad faith, and now you will have to deal with food moths in the kitchen on your own.

How to remove food moth. Ways to deal with moths in the kitchen
Breeding grain moths is not a fast and multitasking process. You will conduct it in stages, so prepare in advance for the fact that it consists not only and not so much of finding nests and removing contaminated products from the house, but also of disinfection, as well as preventive measures. All this does not guarantee that someday in the future the moth will not get into your house again, because it starts up even in very clean kitchens. But today it is in your power to put her out, along with all her numerous and gluttonous offspring. To do this, follow these instructions:

Revision. To begin with, review all your stocks, carefully examine packages and cans of cereals, flour, sugar, dried fruits and all other "long-playing" products. It is not necessary to sort them manually - if you see that there is even a hint of the presence of a moth inside, then ruthlessly throw away all the packaging. Do not try to save at least some of the cereal that seems to you not yet spoiled. Visually, you may not notice the eggs of moths or their particles. But all the garbage and viable larvae will probably go to the trash heap.
Sanitary treatment. Thoroughly wash all the insides of cabinets, pencil cases, cupboards, all surfaces on which the larvae of grain moths and their waste products could have gotten. laundry soap or any other detergent. Then wipe, dry in the open air (preferably in a draft) and do not use for at least 24 hours.
Drying. The surviving stocks of cereals, which the moth did not have time to reach, still need to be processed. The best option at home - heating in the oven at a temperature of about 60 ° C. To do this, sprinkle the food on a dry sheet and place it on the middle level of the oven for two hours. A similar procedure can be carried out in a microwave oven.
Freezing. If you don't want to mess with the oven, you can just put the food in the freezer and forget about it for a couple of days. Lasting influence low temperatures will also destroy any remaining moth residues and disinfect cereals. This will not spoil the products themselves if you freeze them dry and packed in whole bags (preferably paper ones).
Relocation. After warming up, pour food into new and / or perfectly clean and dry jars. They can be glass, metal or plastic - the main thing is that they have hermetically sealed screw caps without the slightest holes. Put a peeled clove of garlic in each jar, and put a few more of the same cloves in the cabinets in which you store the food. It is believed that food moths and other insect pests cannot stand the pungent garlic odor and the phytoncides it releases.
Removing moths with folk remedies is not limited to garlic, especially since recently many housewives have noticed how insects have adapted and even sometimes begin to eat garlic along with cereals. Against such mutant pests, more powerful means... For example, after you have thoroughly cleaned and ventilated cabinets, wipe the inside with vinegar. Pay particular attention to crevices and corners. Leave the surfaces smeared with vinegar for a while, but not less than an hour, and then wash off the acid with soap and water. After such processing, the kitchen will have to be properly ventilated, but the moth will have no chance of surviving under these conditions.
Fighting moth lavender is based on the same assumption that insects do not like strong scents. On the one hand, it is supported by numerous folk recipes... Among them, for example, you can find recommendations to place in the kitchen not only sprigs of lavender, but / or wormwood, mint, and Bay leaf, cloves, chili peppers, even get a smelly geranium in a pot. But, on the other hand, if the spicy aromas really scared the kitchen moth, then it would not settle in bags with spices and dry fruits. Just in case, try to spread or hang bunches of any of the named plants, according to your taste, in the kitchen. There will be no harm from this in person, and you will be able to tell the guests that these are elements of an original decor.
Fighting moth citrus peels- a method similar to the previous ones. Lemon, orange and / or grapefruit peels are unlikely to serve as an interior decoration, but they will cope with the task of aromatizing a room. When fresh, they release essential oils, which continue to act even after the crusts have dried. They can be placed both in cupboards and directly in jars of cereals instead of garlic. What's valuable is that neither garlic nor citrus peels leave their smells on food, but insects can still smell them.
Modern remedies for kitchen moths Are artificial traps. They attract butterflies with special scents and chemicals, but do not affect eggs and larvae in any way. But the caught butterflies will no longer be able to continue their genus. So a moth trap in the form of Velcro or in another compact form (depending on the manufacturer) can reduce the number of flying insects, and you will have to deal with their offspring using other methods.
Insecticidal preparations help you to be guaranteed to defeat moths in the kitchen. Their assortment is quite large in household goods stores and markets. But you need to use such chemicals very carefully, strictly adhering to the dosage and other instructions in the instructions. Careless handling of insecticides is fraught with chemical burns to hands and mucous membranes, food poisoning and other troubles.

To prevent moths from starting up in the kitchen in the future, you will have to adhere to certain rules. Firstly, do not buy food for a long time in order to use cereals, legumes, nuts as soon as possible before the "flying" pest butterfly finds them. Secondly, periodically check grocery stocks and newly purchased goods for the appearance of insects in them: these can be lumps, cocoons, caterpillars, food particles glued together, or simply winding passages in grains gnawed by voracious larvae. Thirdly, never store dry food in plastic bags, which the moth easily gnaws at - only in sealed containers made of glass or metal. Folk remedies for moth control suggest that you will always keep sprigs of moth-repelling plants in the kitchen and renew them periodically. This is really a good way of prevention, because it is better to prevent moths from appearing in the kitchen than to get rid of them later.

From time to time unexpected "guests" appear in every kitchen. Having opened a bag of cereals, you may, to your annoyance, find that small bugs or white caterpillars have settled in it. This Despite its small size, the insect can cause a lot of trouble for a person. At first glance, it's okay - they threw out the contaminated product and that's it. In fact, it turns out to be quite difficult to deal with this pest. It starts even in those kitchens where exemplary order reigns. So it is completely unfair to believe that only bad housewives get a mole in their groats. How to get rid of uninvited guest, we will talk to you today.

You need to know the enemy by sight

What does a food moth look like? This is a nondescript butterfly about one centimeter in size. Her wings can be light gray or brown. If you saw that such a creature is circling around the kitchen, then you urgently need to check all your supplies.

An adult insect is harmless because it doesn't eat anything. However, water is necessary, so you can often find a butterfly just next to kitchen sink... She lives for about two weeks. And all would be fine, but during this time the insect is able to lay up to 400 eggs in hard-to-reach places behind the kitchen furniture.

After 10-15 days, many larvae will hatch from them, which are sent to conquer the vastness of your kitchen. There are different types of these pests: barn, cereal, nut, mill moth. But all of them are distinguished by their high gluttony. If you spot a butterfly in the kitchen, then you will definitely find a moth in the cereal. How to get rid of this neighborhood, we will consider below.

What the pest eats

This question worries many housewives, since it is the key to the answer to which products need to be turned. Special attention... Most often, moths are found in cereals and flour, dry food. These can be nuts and chocolate, dried fruits, tea and spices. Even animal feed is quite suitable as a breeding ground for voracious caterpillars. But most often a mole appears in the croup. We will now talk about how to get rid of it, but for now let's decide on how this insect gets into the house.

Infection routes

The best solution to the problem is prevention. This is an indisputable fact, which is why it is important to know in croup. How to get rid of an insect is already the second question, it is better not to let it into your house at all. Unfortunately, this is more difficult to accomplish than meets the eye. The fact is that many food products are contaminated during production. This is due to improper processing, violation of storage standards, etc. In the warehouse and in the store, temperature conditions may not be suitable for the development of larvae, so they are waiting in the wings.

At home, we usually store dry food in closed lockers. It is dark and warm there - ideal conditions for insects to actively reproduce. The population is increasing dramatically. The larvae gnaw through the bags and infect anything within reach. Sometimes moths can fly from neighbors, but this is extremely rare. Therefore, you should not think badly about the people who live nearby. Now you know where the mole in cereals comes from. How to get rid of it remains to be seen.

Can I eat contaminated foods?

Absolutely not. If you notice that a butterfly is flying around the apartment, it means that there are its offspring somewhere. It must be found and thrown away along with the cereal in which it was hatched. The faster you do this, the more chances that the rest of the food will remain intact. gnaw through packages and eagerly eat the contents. But it's not only that. In parallel, caterpillars infect them with waste products, feces, discarded skin and dead larvae. Experts recommend not to take risks and throw away such products without any regret.

Adults are less dangerous, but they also bother with their presence. They flicker before your eyes, sit on food and drown in vases of jam. Most important, however, these pesky creatures lay hundreds of eggs and give birth to new hordes of hungry caterpillars.

Let's get down to the fight

So, a mole was found in cereals. How to get rid of the pest, now we will figure it out. This will require a whole range of measures that, together, will help restore cleanliness:

Full check and sanitation. If a cereal pest was found in the kitchen, then you will have to come to grips with cleaning. Open all cabinets, get food from the most hidden shelves. This is a chance to kill three birds with one stone: do a general cleaning, check the expiration dates and find a mole in the cereal. How to get rid of it (see the photo in our article) as soon as possible? Throw away any spoiled food in which larvae have been found.
Doubt is raised by those bags of cereals that at first glance look uninfected, but were kept unsealed. In this case, it is better to throw them away too. They may contain insect eggs that you cannot see with the naked eye.
Now, since the products have left their places anyway, the kitchen can be refurbished. All remaining cereals must be packed again in a hermetically sealed container, and the cabinets and shelves must be washed. After such cleaning, it is a pleasure to go into the kitchen.

The best hygiene products

And what do you use if a mole has started up in the cereal? How to get rid of this uninvited guest with maximum effect and in a short time? Experts recommend washing all surfaces with soap and vinegar solutions. However, not just any soap will work. Set the scented dressing aside. The perfect choice will become an alkaline household one, which has light insecticidal and disinfecting properties. That is, in addition, you can perform the prevention of the appearance of the fungus.

Preparing a soapy solution is not difficult. Take three liters warm water and dissolve the ear in it until the water becomes noticeably soapy. With this composition, you need to thoroughly rinse all surfaces, and then perform processing clean water... After complete drying, you can put the food in its place.

Vinegar solution

Each housewife has her own recipes that she uses if a mole appears in cereals. How to get rid of insects (reviews emphasize that this method works flawlessly) if the soap solution did not cope with its task? The hostesses agree that this is only the first stage of processing. To be completely sure of the effectiveness, after drying the shelves, wipe them with a cloth moistened with 5% or 9% vinegar. Now you can count on the cabinets to be completely disinfected from larvae and eggs.

The experience of our grandmothers

Remember how you stayed in the village as a child. My grandmother always smelled amazing and pleasant in the cupboard with cereals. The fact is that they knew very well that if a mole started up in cereals, then the products would have to be thrown away, and being practical people, they did not want to allow such waste. Therefore, they widely used the means that nature gives us.

Lavender and mint, black pepper and garlic repel moths well. Citrus fruits and tobacco do a good job with these responsibilities. Therefore, feel free to put the skins of oranges and tangerines, garlic cloves in the cabinets. Flour and cereals do not absorb odors, so your meals will be flawless.

Home plants against pests

It is useful to have two flowers in the kitchen. The first of these is chlorophytum. It provides a large amount of oxygen, is unpretentious and tolerates poor lighting, cramped conditions and drafts that are inherent in kitchens. The second is geranium. The smell of this plant is not tolerated by many insects, including the food moth. Therefore, you can be calm about the safety of products in the kitchen.

Chemistry in your home

Speaking about what to do if a mole starts up in cereals, many immediately imagine going to the store and choosing an insecticide. In fact, their use in the kitchen is highly undesirable, as it can result in poisoning. Therefore, it is better to stop your attention on safe means that remove the mole mechanically. These are sticky tapes. They are treated with a special substance that attracts moths. They are usually hung in the corners of food storage cabinets.

If you want a quick effect, then buy Raid aerosol. It is highly toxic and must be handled with extreme caution. Remove flowers and aquarium, all utensils from the room. Take family members and pets outside. After that, you can treat the room and ventilate it well.

It used to be thought that plastic bags were inaccessible to moth larvae. However, it is not. She completely calmly chews the material and therefore ideal option for storage are canvas bags with good ties. However, it is even more convenient to pour cereals into plastic or glass containers with tight-fitting lids. If you follow our advice, you will most likely be able to avoid the appearance of a pest in your kitchen. Now you know what to do if you get a mole in cereals.

Food moth repellents are used to keep food safe. Small butterflies seem harmless, only in practice it turns out that this is quite dangerous insects... If you do not get rid of the food moth in time, it will undermine the available stocks. As a result, they will have to be thrown away. You can save products that are less affected.

If a mole starts up, it is probably a representative of one of the species:

Such insects are more common on the territory of private housing within the kitchen. The wingspan is up to 8 mm. The color is pale: from beige to brown. The upper wings are darker than the lower ones.

In length, the pest reaches 1 cm.When the wings are folded, representatives different types insects are similar to each other, since the color is difficult to see.

The larvae reach 1.5 cm in length, are characterized by a light color. If adults differ in appearance, then young offspring are sometimes difficult to distinguish.

Harm done

It is imperative to remove the moth in the kitchen, otherwise it will destroy most of the food. Insects feed on cereals and flour, nuts, dried fruits, as well as seasonings, tea, chocolate products and seeds. They spread through the air (fly through the windows, through the ventilation), get into the apartment with the products brought from the store. Accordingly, it is impossible to completely protect yourself.

Eating food tainted by insects can lead to severe allergic reactions

It is recommended to start fighting insects immediately after signs of infection appear: dust at the bottom of containers with bulk products; changes in the structure of flour and cereals (they become lumpy). Moves appear on the nuts, which are made by caterpillars. Appearance product deteriorates, cocoons and cobwebs are visible, larvae are found. Especially frustrating when they find themselves inside chocolates, because in this case it is difficult to notice the caterpillars.

A butterfly can start suddenly, even if the house is kept clean and a large amount of stock is not stored. You can get rid of food moths in an apartment different ways, but first, the focus of infection should be found. To completely exterminate all individuals and offspring, it is necessary to clean the kitchen.

For the destruction of larvae and eggs, certain means are used, since not all drugs have an effect on the young offspring of butterflies. You also need to decide what to do with moth-infested foods.

Finding the focus of infection

Before getting rid of the moth itself, you should find the source of its appearance. Butterflies leave offspring in different places, where in a week the larvae will appear and begin to destroy the product. In habitats, cobwebs, caterpillars with a large black head are noticeable. Moth eggs are difficult to spot, as they are small in size (no more than a semolina) and white.

Photo of food moth larva close-up

First you need to inspect the ceiling and cabinets for the presence of butterfly cocoons. They are usually found on ceiling plinths, wallpaper joints, at the base of lamps, in crevices and in corners. Pest cocoons are also found at the top of the cabinets.

The first step is to inspect the products. You should look for sticky grains, larvae.

Cleaning the premises

Pest control involves cleaning your entire kitchen. It is necessary to get rid of traces of insects. Severely contaminated food is thrown away first. Having got rid of the source of pests, they move on to cleaning the furniture from the inside. To do this, the contents are taken out, the shelves are also taken out of the cabinets, if possible.

Using a vacuum cleaner, you need to walk the nozzle around all corners, crevices and surfaces. The flow of air will draw in insects. The dust bag is best discarded, but you can also leave it in the freezer for several days. This will kill the insects.

The surfaces inside the cabinets should be treated with a vinegar solution or insecticides (Antimol, etc.). Containers for storing bulk products must also be washed with vinegar solution or laundry soap.

Chemicals and folk methods

An aerosol is suitable for treating cabinets and other surfaces, but only if food is not stored inside. This food moth repellent is not used for spraying food. Popular options: Raptor, Raid, Armol, Combat Super spray.

Of these drugs, only Armol destroys only adults. If the task is to bring out the young (larvae and caterpillars), then Raptor, Combat, Raid should be used.

Special sections allow you to get rid of butterflies: Globol, Raptor, Moskitol. They are located in the corners of the room, not far from the source of infection. This product should not be stored near food.

If the mole starts up in cereals, then you should consider glue traps... They use a pheromone to attract males. Butterflies will not reproduce without males.

You can also fight the pest with folk remedies:

Dried lavender or essential oil
Laundry soap. It is cut into pieces and laid out around the room.
Lemon zest, orange
Herbs with strong smell: tansy, wormwood, cloves, rosemary, thyme, or mint.

Household methods scare away pests, but do not lead to death. For this reason, they are considered only as an auxiliary measure for moth control.

Video tips: Fighting food moths with home remedies

How should contaminated food be handled?

A destructive temperature for a butterfly and offspring: more than -10 and above +30 degrees. For reliability, the products are processed in the oven at +60 degrees and above, or by exposing them to the street if it is hot outside the window.

Freezing is an effective way to control pests.

Many people have faced the problem of food moths. These insects settle in bags of cereals and constantly fly around the kitchen. If you notice this, you have a food moth.

If you come across small black insects in bulk products, then immediately throw away all infected cereals and do a general cleaning of the cabinets. Go through all the suspicious cereals.

In another article, we talked about spoiling food. In this article, we will discuss another insect that damages our food. Food moth settles in foods, lives in them, lays eggs. So it is better to get rid of such cereals, because their waste products have already spoiled food.

Description of food moth

The moth is a representative of the order Lepidoptera, which are small in size and, as a rule, are nocturnal. Moths are extremely small compared to ordinary butterflies.

They also lack the proboscis characteristic of butterflies. Why isn't he? The answer is simple: they just don't need it. While still an embryo, they begin to eat sufficiently solid food, and the need for a proboscis disappears.

At a later age, the moth loses its ability to eat and stops digesting food. The main task for her at this stage is to lay eggs and take care of the offspring.

The moth butterfly has an inconspicuous gray or dark brown color. Typically, butterflies live for 2-5 days. The insect goes through several stages in its development. The first is the larva. The larva is 2 cm long and has a yellowish or white tint; it can live up to 60 days. Then the larva turns into a caterpillar, and the caterpillar turns into a butterfly.

Most of all, the moth loves dried fruits, all kinds of cereals and tea. So the absence of obvious signs of a moth is not a guarantee that it is not there. The mole very quickly adapts to different conditions environment, so it can live at any time of the year and in different climates.

The main danger to humans is carried by moth eggs and larvae. If you notice dark pellets in food, then this is definitely a moth.

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Many summer residents are faced with pests that destroy crops and damage plants.

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Eliminates mosquitoes, cockroaches, rodents, ants, bedbugs
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Of the pests that live in houses, several types can be distinguished:

wardrobe;
cereal;
potato;
fruit.

They all differ from each other in color and food. The wardrobe lives in wardrobes and wherever there is clothing. That is why it is so important to iterate over old clothes that you don't even wear. And the cereal moth, as its name suggests, feeds on cereals.

Fruit moth prefers tea and dried fruit. It is more likely to occur in people who dry their own fruit and tea. And the potato feeds on potato tubers. And most of all she loves old potatoes, they are softer.

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How does food moth appear?

A particular danger lies in wait for you if you buy cereals that are not vacuum packed. If an adult falls into the croup, then nothing will stop it from reproducing. She will infect all the cereals in the closet.

Food moth harm

As mentioned earlier, the greatest danger to humans is represented by larvae and eggs. Throughout its short life, the moth throws off its scales several times, and also waste products end up in food.

Also, an adult lays 400 eggs per life. It is easy to guess that eating insect waste products will have a bad effect on the human body. As a result of the consumption of moth-infected products by a person, intoxication of the body occurs.

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How to get rid of food moths?

Due to the specifics of the nutrition of the moth, there is no clear solution to the problem. Since the moth feeds on bulk products, the poison must get into them. Therefore, the destruction of moths is a rather complicated and painstaking process.

There are a lot of different products to choose from. Almost all of them are aerosol.

Mainly aerosols of the company are in demand on the market:

Raid;
Raptor;
Armol;
Antimole;
Combat.

They have an immediate effect and also create a protective barrier. Just spray the aerosol in the kitchen, leave your home for a couple of hours, and then air it out. Now the moth will definitely not have a chance, and by calcining the croup, you will save yourself from a possible relapse.

Folk remedies

Folk remedies for moths:

Is it possible to remove a mole at home forever?

Often they help and folk remedies but they are effective for small colonies.

But the most effective method of struggle will be proactive. If you constantly take care of the cleanliness of your home, as well as engage in prevention, then you simply will not start moths.

Prevention of the appearance of moths

You should not make large stocks of cereals, flour and sugar and store them in your kitchen. Better to bribe products as needed. And you need to buy from well-known trade marks and try to avoid leaky packaging.

If possible, do not leave food on fresh air(dried fruits, tea, cereals). It is also important to check all products after purchase. If you suspect a moth infection, throw away the cereal without regret.

Conclusion

The moth can appear both in a rural house and in a fashionable apartment. Only competent use preventive measures, as well as maintaining order in the kitchen.

Many housewives are familiar with this kitchen pest firsthand. She is able to spoil all food supplies, including groceries. How to get rid of moths in cereals and prevent their reappearance?

First ambulance

Step 1. Revision. Review all food stocks - cans and packs of groceries and other long-lasting foods. No need to iterate over everything manually. If there is any hint of a moth, throw away the entire container. You should not keep what you think is not spoiled yet. You may not see eggs or larvae, but that does not mean that they will not be there.

One moth butterfly is capable of multiplying very quickly and infecting all your food supplies with larvae

Step 2. Sanitization. Rinse detergent all the insides of cabinets, cupboards or pencil cases, as well as other surfaces and containers, which could get moth larvae or products of its vital activity. For these purposes, a solution of crushed laundry soap (10-15 grams) and boiling water (1 liter) is ideal. At the end, rinse everything with clean water, dry it and leave to ventilate for a day. If possible, make a draft in the kitchen.

Step 3. Heat treatment. Pour the remaining stocks onto a dry baking sheet and bake in the oven at 60 degrees for two hours. The same procedure can be done in the microwave.

Step 4. Freeze. For those who do not want to mess with the oven, we advise you to send food to the freezer for 2-3 days. Prolonged exposure to cold will completely kill the larvae and disinfect the cereals.

Advice! To prevent food spoilage during freezing, pack them in undamaged bags (preferably made of paper). One more important condition- the groats must be dry!

Step 5. "Relocation". What to do if food moths are in stock? Transfer the processed cereals to new or well-washed dry containers. They can be made of metal, plastic or glass. The main thing is that they are closed with sealed lids.

Store remedies for kitchen moths

In the store you will find several modern preparations for food moths. The most common are aerosols and traps.

Insecticidal aerosols

They guarantee a 100% result, but require extra care. This method is radical, therefore, when using it, you must adhere to the instructions and dosages - they are indicated on the package. Another important condition is the presence individual funds protection. These include a mask, gloves, goggles, and a long-sleeved robe. Before starting processing, dishes and food are taken out of the kitchen, and the doors of cabinets and nightstands are opened. Curtains, tablecloths and other textile accessories should be washed at the highest temperature, and containers for storing cereals should be washed in a baking soda solution.

The most popular aerosol moth insecticides are:

Antimol - suitable for spraying fabrics and kitchen furniture, reliably protects the house from any type of moth for 12 months;
Raptor - very effective drug, which allows you to breed not only adults, but also larvae. The active effect of this aerosol is maintained for a year, provided that the furniture will not be washed. Otherwise, the treatment will have to be repeated after each wet cleaning;
Combat is a versatile remedy for all types of moths. Absolutely safe for people and pets. "Combat" should be sprayed on the joints and walls of furniture, as well as in the corners of the kitchen.

Improper handling of chemical insecticides can result in burns to mucous membranes and hands, as well as severe food poisoning.

Traps

One more effective method from the kitchen moth. Unfortunately, they are not able to rid the kitchen of the entire population, but they can significantly reduce the number of adults. The main advantage of such traps is ease of use.

How does a trap work? Its secret is very simple - inside there is a paper tape impregnated with glue with the addition of pheromones of adult female moths. Attracted by this smell, insects immediately adhere to the tape.

On a note! You may have noticed that moths almost never grow in dried peas, buckwheat, prunes, and polished rice.

Tips to get rid of moths in the kitchen:

Folk remedies for cereal moth

What to do if a mole starts up in cereals? Use simple and time-tested means to combat it:

Garlic. To scare away moth butterflies, place several slices of this aromatic vegetable in containers with cereals. Do not worry about their taste - garlic will not affect it;
Spices. Spread out around the perimeter kitchen cabinets or shelves of bay leaves, cloves, peppers or oregano. Also toss a couple of them into food containers;
Walnut. This plant has a specific smell that repels insects. By spreading just a couple of fresh leaves in the corners of the cabinets, you will forget about all the troubles associated with moths for a long time;

Perfumery is a rather unusual but effective remedy. To prevent the larvae from destroying all supplies, spray the insides of the lockers with any cologne or perfume;
Tobacco. Tobacco leaves spread out on the shelves have a very strong deterrent effect;
Natural Camphor - Break into pieces and scatter around the kitchen. An alternative would be camphor alcohol or essential oil. They are used during cleaning;
Oil solution tea tree(2 tbsp. L.), Alcohol (1 tbsp. L.) And water (1 glass). Mix all the ingredients and use to wash furniture and dishes in which cereals were stored.

Treat kitchen cabinets and cereal containers with tea tree oil solution - moth cannot tolerate this smell

Is it okay to eat contaminated foods?

Experts strongly discourage the use of contaminated cereals for cooking. When you see a butterfly in the kitchen, find its offspring and destroy it along with the reserves in which it was based. The faster you do it, the large quantity products will survive. The larvae of the kitchen moth gnaw through the packages and eat their contents at an enviable speed, infecting everything around them with their waste products, dead individuals and chitinous membranes. Once in the human body, such food can cause the development of a serious allergic reaction.

Now you know how to get rid of moths in cereals. It remains only to take measures to prevent its reappearance. Our helpful tips will also help you with this.

Advice 1. Brought purchases from the store, be sure to process in the oven or freeze in the freezer.

Tip 2. Do not store cereals in plastic. After processing, pour them into plastic container, cans or glass containers with tight lids.

Tip 3. Keep the room clean - regularly wash the furniture with vinegar or detergent both outside and inside.

Tip 4. Ventilate the kitchen daily by opening cabinet doors.

Tip 5. Even after getting rid of moths, continue to use the above remedies for prevention purposes.

Tip 6. From time to time, review your stocks for lumps, cocoons, stuck together particles, cobwebs, etc.

Tip 7. Disassemble all the rubble and take out on the trash those things and objects that you have not used for a long time. It is an ideal environment for moths and other insects to thrive.

Tip 9. Do not buy more food than you can eat in a week.

Tip 10. Don't let butterflies fly around your apartment - be sure to catch and destroy them. The main harm of adults is the ability to produce new offspring.