pantry moths, gross Q

[blissed]

My new kitchen is home to pantry moths. Dunno if they were here first, or if we brought them with us when we moved in. But they're in my pantry, and increasing by the hour, it seems.

The gross question: Do I really need to toss EVERYTHING in my pantry out? My new mortgage has me feeling really, really broke. I'm reluctant to toss everything, but of course I want to get rid of these nasty things before they ruin my life.

Anyone with experience that could help, please do. Sigh.
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All I ate was spearmint candy
Trying to change the flavor of the days
...But oh this time the sugar was dazzling

[midnightsky1686]

I really have no idea but these look like some good ideas. I wouldn't think you would have to throw *everything* out.
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[silverfish2007]

you have to throw out everything they could have gotten into. obviously canned goods are safe, things in jars with tight-fitting lids, air tight plastic containers, etc. are fine. things in bags and boxes should be tossed.
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candy to carrots

[Sainte Eph]

well, we have these guys too. blech.

when checking your items, remember to check the inside lip of anything with a lid, even if it's really airtight. they can lay eggs and hatch in the lid lip.

they can also sometimes eat through ziploc bags so check those items too.

and please check your spices. we found a ton of the larvae living in our spice containers. really gross.

and pull out your fridge and vacuum down there. any crumbs can keep them around.

if you have something brand new and it doesn't look like there are any larvae, you can freeze the item for a week and that will kill off any possible eggs. then you can brig it out as long as you have gotten rid of any other infested products.

we are doing a full-force search-and-destroy this weekend, getting rid of anything sketchy, and then setting traps and using insecticide for whatever else is left. i'm sick of them!

-stephanie
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No fork left behind!

[blissed]

I don't feel like eating ever again.

Thanks for the advice -- I hadn't come across that link to tips, very helpful. Looks like we will be spending our weekend attacking them too. Good thing the freezer has a lot of space. Good luck with your war, Sainte Eph!

I will try to see this as an opportunity for an overdue purge, and not focus too much on the likelihood that I will be pouring lots of $$$ worth of goodies into the garbage.
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All I ate was spearmint candy
Trying to change the flavor of the days
...But oh this time the sugar was dazzling

[jayne]

i just scoured what i had and threw out what was clearly infested, then wrapped everything else well and started storing more stuff in the fridge.

also, i put sticks of minty gum in my cabinets and that seriously seems to keep them away- haven't had any problems all year.
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[tiggycat]

We had those evil peskies, too, a couple years ago. Be especially sure you toss all the grain/corn (flours, rice, cereal, cornmeal, etc.) products they could have gotten into. Seriously. Even though it feels like a gigantic waste, do it, otherwise you won't be able to get rid of them. Oh, check your teas, too, if you have any that aren't individually wrapped bags-- I was grossed out to find some of my tea infested with them.
Good luck with your war!

[daysleeper]

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I've had such major trouble with these damned things. I can only suggest rampant purging, scouring and storing everything in the refrigerator for awhile. Kill every moth and every larvae you see. They're not very fast and easy to get.

I just keep everything in the refrigerator (sans canned items). It annoys me that I can't have a pantry full of pasta anymore.

[teak]

bump. i think that article posted above does a pretty good job. i cleaned. i got pheremone and glue traps. i feel awful, but it is helping. however, they seem to be getting craftier. if anyone else has any other tips for driving the buggers away, i would much appreciate it. im going to get more glue traps and add cedar, eucalyptus, and peppermint EO to the arsenal and see how that goes. these moths really upset me. i cant believe the stuff they've managed to get into. im sure i could clean more and again, and will, but COME ON DUDES. EVACUATE.
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[daysleeper]

Have you eliminated all their food sources? Sadly you have to deal with a life cycle or two before they are out.

Its been awhile, but my moth problem started with a bag of birdseed and escalated until I had to keep all food that wasn't in a can in the refrigerator. I did that for a really really long time... 6-12 months at least. I even kept the dry cat food in the fridge.

I found them in threaded jars! Ughhh!! Its been years, but every now and then I'll find a carcass or a cocoon in deep kitchen storage and am flashed back. When I was doing stuff in my kitchen I found a cocoon behind a drawer (yeah, who checks there?)
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[teak]

blarrrrrrrrrrrrgh.
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Yeah... well... you know, that's just like... uh... your opinion, man.

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