OT Weevils
Submitted: Tuesday, Apr 11, 2006 at 10:22
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Member - Blue (VIC)
OK so not even remotely related to this site but hoping for some advice anyway...
We have had a problem with weevils ever since we moved into this house, approx 6 years ago... We have emptied, scrubbed, sprayed and made sure that all dry ingredients are stored in air tight containers... The damn things can even infiltrate tupperware. Never even seen one before we moved in here and now we can't get rid of them. Each time we have a major hissy fit and go berserk cleaning and throwing out what used to be perfectly good food, we are rid of them for about 2 or 3 months, then they're back again. Funnily enough, dry foods stored in the camper have never been affected. Does anyone know of any remedy for this???
Reply By: phantom - Tuesday, Apr 11, 2006 at 10:28
Tuesday, Apr 11, 2006 at 10:28
Hey Blue,
We had a similar problem and they kept coming back. We eventually found that we missed a breeding spot in one of the containers. Like you, you keep throwing out the obvoiusly infected stuff but you need to
check EVERY container and I bet you will find some larvae thingies.
Good luck.
AnswerID:
166405
Follow Up By: Member - Blue (VIC) - Tuesday, Apr 11, 2006 at 10:34
Tuesday, Apr 11, 2006 at 10:34
phantom, mate I reckon I've combatted that... We empty each container, wash, dry thoroughly and repack throughout our little frenzy... Then we surface spray the cupboards until the stuff is running down the walls. We don't know anyone who has this problem, makes you feel kinda dirty...
FollowupID:
421276
Follow Up By: phantom - Tuesday, Apr 11, 2006 at 10:43
Tuesday, Apr 11, 2006 at 10:43
Yo Blue,
They are frustrating ..aren't they.
It may be that they are breeding in small crevices in the walls themselves. We had them in the ceiling cornices on the corner joins!! They don't need much space to create havoc.
We also spent a fortune on tupperware with the same result.
Keep at it.
FollowupID:
421278
Reply By: Philip A - Tuesday, Apr 11, 2006 at 10:33
Tuesday, Apr 11, 2006 at 10:33
Just input cupboard moth in Google.
We buy those pheromone lures which seem to work.
Friend reckons the moths lay eggs in the little holes for the shelf pins in most kitchen cupboards.
My wife recently cleaned out the cupboard and this must have stirred them up as we had another lot. We put all dry cereals etc in zip top bags and do not have weevils but do get the moths.
Regard s Philip A
AnswerID:
166407
Follow Up By: Member - Blue (VIC) - Tuesday, Apr 11, 2006 at 10:38
Tuesday, Apr 11, 2006 at 10:38
The missus is going to be reluctant to use the zip-lock bags... She has spent a small fortune(read, I could've paid cash for a top of the line troll) on tupperware...
FollowupID:
421277
Reply By: Member - Bware (Tweed Valley) - Tuesday, Apr 11, 2006 at 11:10
Tuesday, Apr 11, 2006 at 11:10
I've found on occassion over the years that we've had weevils in the packaged flour before it has been opened. It's possible that you are putting contaminated products into your thouroughly cleaned containers. When we have bought infested flour we seemed to have a run of it; perhaps from the same supermarket/brand/batch?
AnswerID:
166411
Follow Up By: Member - Blue (VIC) - Tuesday, Apr 11, 2006 at 19:15
Tuesday, Apr 11, 2006 at 19:15
Buying infested dry goods once or twice I could understand... A dozen or more times over 6 years is a bit rich though, especially since it's not just flour... We have probs with flour, breadcrumbs, sugar, corn flour, custard powder, baking powder, the list goes on... The good lady buy's whichever dry goods are on special so putting it down to one brand/batch is a difficult job.
FollowupID:
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Reply By: Member No 1- Tuesday, Apr 11, 2006 at 11:18
Tuesday, Apr 11, 2006 at 11:18
if a pantry
moths dont like the light all that much...try leaving a light on
or
what about a bug zapper
AnswerID:
166413
Follow Up By: Member - Blue (VIC) - Tuesday, Apr 11, 2006 at 19:16
Tuesday, Apr 11, 2006 at 19:16
A 415V bug zapper sounds the go... just don't go looking for flour with wet hands...
FollowupID:
421383
Reply By: Michael B - Tuesday, Apr 11, 2006 at 11:38
Tuesday, Apr 11, 2006 at 11:38
Blue,
I can understand your frustration, as suggested the weevils could be in the product you are buying.
On occasions we have problems in our supermarket, rice/flour/sago etc, have even seen them in health bars and bird seed -all unopened packets direct from the supplier.
Manufacturers tell me that it is a 'warehouse' moth and will get into the product undetected, eventually hatch out and can burrow out of the plastic wrapper.
Have no idea how you could stop them but if each and every product is put into a sealed tupperware style container you may be able to indentify the guilty product, because I am sure it would only be one or two products that are causing the problem.
Michael B (SA)
AnswerID:
166417
Follow Up By: Member - Blue (VIC) - Tuesday, Apr 11, 2006 at 19:20
Tuesday, Apr 11, 2006 at 19:20
The problem so far Michael is that we notice them in one product so we drag everything out and inspect it all... Usually multiple products are infested and EVERYTHING in the pantry is in Tupperware™ containers. As we can't identify a definate problem item, it's hard to combat effectively.
FollowupID:
421384
Reply By: Member - Sharyn M (VIC) - Tuesday, Apr 11, 2006 at 13:23
Tuesday, Apr 11, 2006 at 13:23
Hello Blue,
Try putting a "bay Leaf" in your containers, this is supposed to deter the little blighters. Hmm... read that somewhere, no actually one of nanna's remedies, I think.
Sharyn
AnswerID:
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Follow Up By: Member - Blue (VIC) - Tuesday, Apr 11, 2006 at 19:21
Tuesday, Apr 11, 2006 at 19:21
My sister-in-law just emailed me that one... Will give it a try...
FollowupID:
421385
Follow Up By: Member - JohnR (Vic)&Moses - Tuesday, Apr 11, 2006 at 23:02
Tuesday, Apr 11, 2006 at 23:02
Sharyn, it is nice with stews and the like but I am not sure I would like the bay flavours in my cereal with yoghurt and walnuts.
FollowupID:
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Reply By: Pajman Pete (SA) - Tuesday, Apr 11, 2006 at 14:11
Tuesday, Apr 11, 2006 at 14:11
We had a similar problem in the tropics and ended putting everything that was normally affected in the freezer - problem solved.
AnswerID:
166437
Follow Up By: Member - Blue (VIC) - Tuesday, Apr 11, 2006 at 19:22
Tuesday, Apr 11, 2006 at 19:22
i have a chest freezer, a 60/40 fridge freezer and a 600Lt side-by-side fridge/freezer and I don't have room for the dry goods in any of them... Yes, my missus is a bulk buyer...lol
FollowupID:
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Follow Up By: Willem - Wednesday, Apr 12, 2006 at 06:40
Wednesday, Apr 12, 2006 at 06:40
Yep, we had similar problems in
Darwin in the early days. Missus says we used to buy weevils in packets from Woolies. Whatever packet you bought had weevils in it!! Tupperware has no protection against weevils.
We just stuck the flour into the freezer. The weevils left(or became part of the breadmix...lol). Then put it through a sieve when using. The freezer does not affect the quality of the flour.
Maybe you could eat some of the bulk food and then store weevils in freezer...lol
FollowupID:
421500
Reply By: Steve63 - Tuesday, Apr 11, 2006 at 14:35
Tuesday, Apr 11, 2006 at 14:35
Hi Blue,
If you are getting weevils inside tupperware there are only two reasons. Someone left the lid not completely sealed or they were in the original produce. If you are sure the lid has been on firmly then use the procedure you have been using but then take the newly filled containers and stick them in the deep freeze for at least 48 hours. If the containers are big at least 72 hours. This is meant to kill the them.
Steve
AnswerID:
166443
Follow Up By: Member - Blue (VIC) - Tuesday, Apr 11, 2006 at 19:24
Tuesday, Apr 11, 2006 at 19:24
Might have a go at that one... Anything is worth a try at the moment... Of course, as mentioned earlier, I have limited freezer space so cycling them through might have to be the go
FollowupID:
421388
Reply By: simple - Tuesday, Apr 11, 2006 at 18:28
Tuesday, Apr 11, 2006 at 18:28
we've done a thorough clean out and then use CLOVE OIL to wipe down all the surfaces of the cupboard. seems to have been effective so far
AnswerID:
166498
Follow Up By: Member - Blue (VIC) - Tuesday, Apr 11, 2006 at 19:25
Tuesday, Apr 11, 2006 at 19:25
Guess I'm buying some clove oil as
well then...
FollowupID:
421389
Reply By: suburban - Tuesday, Apr 11, 2006 at 20:34
Tuesday, Apr 11, 2006 at 20:34
G'day All! Just put a some cloves in the cupboards or if you have a Laurel tree just put some fresh Bay Leaves in. Hooroo, Les.
AnswerID:
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Reply By: Bob Y. - Qld - Tuesday, Apr 11, 2006 at 20:54
Tuesday, Apr 11, 2006 at 20:54
Blue,
When I worked on a station in the
Kimberley, some years ago, the flour was bought in bags, and these were regularly put out in the sun. This got a bit hot for the weevils and they would evacuate the bags. Dunno what happened when the grubs were in the bags, just
cook and enjoy the added protein, I suppose.
Have heard the bay leaf and cloves one before too.
Good luck,
Hooroo...
AnswerID:
166535