NetNews Usenet Archive 1992 #27/NN_1992_27.iso/spool/rec/gardens/8094

Internet Message Format | 1992-11-18 | 1.7 KB

Path: sparky!uunet!destroyer!news.iastate.edu!iscsvax.uni.edu!klier
From: [e-mail]
Newsgroups: rec.gardens
Subject: re: Meal moths (was fungus gnats)
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
Date: 18 Nov 92 13:05:53 -0600
References: <[e-mail]> <[e-mail]> <[e-mail]>
Organization: University of Northern Iowa
Lines: 29

In article <[e-mail]>, [e-mail] (John Snyder) writes:
>>    While I have your attention, I was infested with these little
>>unassuming brown moths in my garage, I put out the bug zapper to try to
>>catch them, but they where not attracted to it. I didn't think to much
>>about it until these small white catapillar or larva started to appear. They
>>have infested my chicken feed. The scrath is their favorite. I go into the
>>garage every night and turn on the light and catch anywhere from 20 to 40
>>crawling on the trash cans used for feed storage.
...
>
> I'm no insect expert, but they sound like grain moths to me.  I used to get
> them in flours and grain products that I kept in my kitchen back when I
> kept stuff bought in bulk in plastic bags or paper bags,
...

Sounds like Indian meal moths to me, too.  Consider them extra protein.
After all, free-range chickens eat LOTS of bugs and worms and other
stuff we humans go 'yuck' about.

As for control of meal moths in the house, the best and safest control I
know of is to put infested items in the freezer for a couple of days,
let them thaw for a week or so (so eggs will hatch), then freeze again
for a couple of days.

After that, you can sieve the food if you wish-- or just shut your eyes and
pretend you're camping.

Kay