Who gets turned on in cereals. How to get rid of bugs in flour. How to avoid recurrence
Even the most responsible housewife can encounter insects in her home. No one is immune from purchasing cereals or dried fruits infested with pests. If you don't eliminate it in time " uninvited guests", they can even appear on the floor and walls. Find out how to deal with bugs in cereals and how to prevent them reappearance.
Small black bugs in the kitchen can appear due to the dishonesty of manufacturers who did not process the cereal according to all the rules, and as a result of non-compliance with the storage conditions of the purchased product.
Even buying buckwheat or rice in a tightly closed package will not provide a complete guarantee of safety; such cereals can also be contaminated with insects
Bugs can “move” into a container with cereal from neighboring jars on the shelf. Tea, dried fruits, pasta, flour, spices - all this can serve as food for insects.
Main types of kitchen pests
- Small flour beetles
Brown beetles up to 3.5 mm in size bear offspring 4 times a year. Any cereals, flour and starch can be infected with beetles. Khrushchaki make the product lumpy and unsuitable for food.
- Red mukoeaters
Mills and bakeries are common habitats for these insects. Flour eaters end up in the kitchen along with stale flour. The female flour beetle lays eggs in the cracks between shelves and in the folds of packaging bags. The insect reproduces 2-3 times a year, its life expectancy is 3 years. In the photo below you can see beetles in flour - mucoeds.
- Bread grinders
This 2 to 4 mm long, light or dark brown pest has a more varied diet. Its menu may include: cereals, tea, flour, crackers, cookies, nuts, dried fruits, medicinal plants. When there are too many bugs, they can even be seen on the walls. If you have insects in your kitchen, photos with names will help you identify them.
Pests thrive in humid and warm environments
If you find sticky lumps, cobwebs, cocoons or larvae in bulk products, you can talk about moths entering the kitchen. This is what they call flour and granary moths. The moth butterfly does not feed on cereals; it needs the bulk product to lay eggs.
As soon as the caterpillars emerge, they spread throughout the kitchen in search of a place to create a cocoon.
Moths can quickly “take over” the kitchen area. Therefore, start fighting the “enemy” as quickly as possible.
Important! When purchasing cereal, pay attention to the integrity of the packaging and the expiration date of the product. If you have the slightest doubt, refrain from purchasing.
- Pea weevil
The insect is very fond of beans, especially the white variety. The weevil climbs inside the grain, eating away everything nutrients.
To protect beans or peas from grains, dill seeds are placed in bags of legumes.
What are the dangers of contaminated products?
Many people ask the question: “Is it possible to eat cereals after removing the beetles from them?” Experts do not recommend preparing dishes from products spoiled by pests. During their life, insects leave excrement and shells of larvae in them. In addition, the beetles eat the core of the grains, and the remaining part becomes bitter and acquires bad smell.
Important! After eating spoiled foods, allergic reactions and stomach upset may occur.
Ways to control insects
If small bugs appear in the kitchen, you will have to start a big cleaning and look through all the cabinets, drawers, bread bins and cereal containers. Even if you eliminate visible insects, larvae laid by them may remain in the cracks.
In the warmth of a home, bugs from an infected product in short time spread all over the kitchen
- The cereal is heated in the oven for 20 minutes at a temperature of 60°C, and then poured into tightly sealed jars. When the cereal is heated, the beetles will die, but the unpleasant musty smell will still remain in the cereal. In addition, during such processing, vitamins and proteins of the product are lost.
- Specialists in healthy eating It is recommended to leave the bag of buckwheat or rice in the freezer for several hours. If the cereal is infected with a pest, the insects will die, but the benefits will remain.
- To get rid of bugs in beans, soak the beans in salt water and then rinse with water several times. The spoiled grains will float to the surface and can be easily separated from the whole and undamaged grains.
- After identifying bugs, wash kitchen cabinets with water and laundry soap, it has disinfecting properties. Then wipe the surfaces with a vinegar solution. The cracks and latches of cabinets can be doused with boiling water.
Tip: to kill pests in hard to reach places insecticides can be used (all food products must be removed from the kitchen first).
By keeping your kitchen tidy and clean, you can minimize the risk of insects.
If there are bugs in the kitchen, do not hesitate to get rid of obviously spoiled products - they will not bring any health benefits. Be sure to carry out a set of measures to disinfect cabinets and shelves.
Prevention methods
- Don't buy too much cereal or store it in plastic or paper bags. A glass or plastic jar with an airtight lid is the most acceptable storage option. bulk products.
- Place a pod of dry hot pepper or a couple of cloves of unpeeled garlic in each container of cereal - beetles do not like such smells. Some housewives add crushed clove powder to the cereal and wash the cereal before cooking.
It makes sense to keep dried mushrooms, rose hips, beans in a vacuum jar for food storage
- Place a linen bag with salt and bay leaf at the bottom of the container. Salt exhibits disinfecting properties and absorbs moisture. You can also use dry lemon peel or chestnut - all this repels insects.
- Food pests don't like metal objects. Place a piece in jars with bulk products food foil or a regular metal spoon.
- Wipe down your kitchen shelves with vinegar from time to time. Don’t forget to dry the washed cabinets.
- Use sealable glass or plastic containers to store bulk products.
Advice. There are also folk remedies from insect pests. Mix boric acid, powdered sugar and flour in equal proportions. Place the product on the shelves of the closet and in the pantry.
Where and in what should cereals be stored?
One of the reasons for the appearance of brown bugs in the kitchen is a violation of the shelf life of cereals.
- Buckwheat, rice and noodles by weight can be stored for six months, millet grains - 3 months, corn - 4 months.
- Flour can be stored on the shelf for a year, oatmeal - 7 months. Long term Shelf life of polished basmati rice is 18 months.
Properly prepared porridge is not only tasty, but also healthy. This statement is true only for high-quality cereals that are not infested with pests.
- Semolina is stored in wooden containers or fabric bags with drawstrings. A glass container is suitable for rice. It is best to store oatmeal in a jar in the refrigerator. Buckwheat is dried in a frying pan and stored in metal container.
- Nuts and dried fruits should be stored in the refrigerator, not on a cabinet shelf.
- You can also store buckwheat or rice in a linen bag that must be tied. Before use, the bag should be dipped in boiling water with salt (5 tablespoons of salt per 1 liter of water) and dried.
Important! Always throw away food from expired shelf life to prevent bugs from appearing in the kitchen cabinet.
How to protect supplies from annoying insects
High humidity and high temperature optimal conditions for the development of any insects. Within a few days, bugs may appear in pest-infested cereals or flour made from larvae. Therefore, if your house or apartment has a dry and cool pantry, it is best to store bulk products there.
How to deal with bugs in cereals:
| Title and appearance | Features of development and habitat | How to get rid of a bug in cereals |
| The mucoed of Suriname is called brown beetles, from the order Coleoptera. | Mucoeds can lay up to 600 eggs throughout their life, and they live for about 3 years. The beetle larvae, smaller than 1 mm in size, are inconspicuous and turn into pupae and then into adults. Reproduction occurs faster if the beetle's habitat has a humidity of up to 65% and the air is heated to 27 degrees. |
It is necessary to sort out the infected cereals and place them in the oven to warm up. Recommended temperature is up to 50 degrees. Grocery cabinets should be washed with soap and water, and crevices and corners of the cabinet should be coated with vinegar. |
| Indian food moth grows up to 1 cm. The golden butterfly is a relative of the moth that eats woolen items. | The lifespan of food moths is up to 3 weeks; during this time, about 400 eggs turn into larvae and cause harm to food. If you take them to the trash container, then later you will find small worms in huge quantities. We treat food containers and cabinets that contained spoiled food as in the case of a beetle. |
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| Bug terracotta color with a shiny shell is called a mealworm. Its dimensions are up to 4 mm. | The insect cannot tolerate strong odors. It will be frightened or even killed by pyrethrum powder, which can be sprinkled on food cabinets. It is not dangerous for people, since Caucasian or Persian chamomile is used to make it. |
If the black bugs in the cereal have not yet multiplied and there are few of them, then the products can be used to feed birds. After sifting the cereal through a sieve, heat it in an oven heated to 110 degrees C. Or vice versa, we take the cereals out into the cold or place them in freezer for a day. Processed foods should be consumed as soon as possible. If a bug is found in flour, it is better to throw it away. |
Note! Chemicals cannot be used to control cereal pests - this is fraught with consequences for human health, and there may be poisoning with toxic substances.
Tips on how to store cereals to prevent insects:
Even the smell of sulfur from a match head can repel harmful insects - you just need to leave the matchbox open.
Why do small bugs appear in cereals: the reason for the appearance
Where do insects in foods come from:
Important! Do not have the habit of purchasing large quantities of cereals and flour; harmful insects love to settle in old products.
What are the dangers for humans and what will happen if you eat them?
All this can enter the human body. Heat treatment products are not enough to protect a person from harmful effects this garbage.
Important! The beetle larvae are so small that they may not be immediately noticed. Therefore, it is better not to use contaminated cereals for food, but to burn them.
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Specialization: master in construction plasterboard structures, finishing works and styling floor coverings. Installation of door and window units, finishing of facades, installation of electrical, plumbing and heating - I can give detailed advice on all types of work.
Bugs in cereals and other products in the kitchen are an unpleasant surprise that causes a lot of problems for housewives. In this article we will figure out how to solve this problem with minimal costs time and effort and how to carry out prevention to prevent the appearance of bugs later.
How to get rid of bugs in cereals in the kitchen cupboard
To understand the topic in detail, we will divide it into several parts; you need to carefully study all the information below in order to understand what and how to do. Everything is quite simple, the main thing is to follow safety measures and do everything carefully.
Causes of pests
- Cereals, flour and other products are stored in loosely closed containers. Many people simply place open packages on shelves and use them as needed. That is, insects have free access to all your supplies, and if several insects get into the kitchen, they will multiply very quickly in such conditions;
- Old, dry furniture. Despite its non-obviousness, this aspect greatly increases the likelihood that bugs will appear in the cabinet, since they live and multiply in the cracks of dried wood and in old furniture are being created ideal conditions. To eliminate such problems, repair and replace furniture on time;
- Large stocks of cereals, flour and other products. You shouldn’t stock up on everything for the year ahead; the more products you have stored, the higher the likelihood that one of the packages contains beetle larvae, which will damage not only the contents of one package, but over time will penetrate the contents of other packages. All savings turn into additional costs when you have to throw away half of the supplies;
- Purchase of cereals by pests. Most often, it is very difficult to distinguish between eggs and larvae; however, carefully inspect the packages and try to buy those packages in which the contents are at least partially visible. If the appearance is suspicious or you see foreign inclusions, then it is better to refuse the purchase. Sometimes the bugs are visible to the naked eye, as in the photo below, which is why transparent bags are preferable;
- Clutter in the lockers. If cereals and flour spill on the shelves and cleaning is not carried out for a long time, then the danger of pests increases sharply. You need to clean the cabinets in a timely manner and try to prevent spillage of bulk products.
Remember that pests feed not only on flour and cereals. Other products must also be protected: pasta, cookies and crackers, bakery products, various nuts, dried fruits, food concentrates.
Types of bugs in the kitchen
Most often in the kitchen one of the the following types pests:
| Illustration | Description |
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Surinamese mucoed. Small bugs with a body size of no more than 2 mm prefer cereals and quickly breed in most bulk products that are stored in the kitchen. The bug is bred in grain drying complexes and elevators and enters the house in bags of semolina, pasta or rice. The tiny eggs laid by the pest cannot be distinguished with the naked eye, so it is impossible to completely guarantee safety when purchasing. The red flour beetle, as this bug is also called, feeds not only on cereals, but also on breadcrumbs, dried fruits, dried fruits and much more. |
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Flour beetle. These pests are much easier to detect as their size reaches 4 mm. They settle in bags of cereals, bread bins and cracks in kitchen cabinets.
It feeds on almost all bulk foods and multiplies very quickly if no measures are taken to eliminate it. |
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Grinder beetle. Grows up to 3 mm and has different colors- from dark yellow to brown. In the kitchen there is a so-called bread grinder, which feeds on any cereals, dried fruits, and baked goods. It multiplies very actively and can occupy your cabinets in just a week. |
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food moth. A relative of the pest that starts in wardrobes. Lepidoptera insect small size causes great damage to all bulk products in the kitchen. Moreover, the main problems are caused not by small moths, but by their larvae - voracious caterpillars. |
Folk remedies for getting rid of bugs in the kitchen
Remember a simple rule - the sooner after detection you begin to fight pests, the easier the job will be. You need to complete whole line important actions:
| Illustration | Description |
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An audit of all available bulk products is carried out. Carefully remove the contents from the cabinets and carefully review all products that may contain pests. It is important not to miss a single package, since a good effect can only be guaranteed if all insects are completely eliminated. |
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Damage caused to products is assessed. There may be several options for the development of events:
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Getting rid of pests is done like this::
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Cabinets need to be thoroughly cleaned and washed.. To do this, use the simplest disinfectant solution, which is easy to prepare: 1 tablespoon per liter of water. All surfaces are wiped with the composition, after which you need to wait completely dry all lockers. If there are cracks inside, they should be filled with putty. special composition, since these are the places where pests most often live. |
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All products must be poured into sealed containers. These can be glass jars or special plastic containers. There should be no bags, as these are potential places for pests to spread. |
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Baits are prepared and placed with boric acid or borax. They are located near cabinets, on window sills and countertops. The composition is poured onto pieces of cardboard or into can lids. It is important that the products are closed, as indicated above, so that pests do not enter them after they have tasted the bait. |
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Folk remedies are used to repel pests:
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Let's figure out how to prepare bait, everything is quite simple:
- You will need boric acid or borax. These compounds are sold in hardware stores and are inexpensive. As for the release form, a powder version is used to prepare dry bait, and for bait with honey it is better to use a liquid form;
- The second component that will be used to remove pests is powdered sugar. You need about the same amount of it as the first composition. Can buy ready-made option, or you can grind regular sugar, it makes no difference;
- Preparation is simple: the components are mixed in a 1:1 ratio. After this, a little of the composition is poured into the lids, which are placed near the places where the pests were found. You can also place baits in the corners of the kitchen, since it is possible that insects have scattered around the room.
Prevention of bugs
In order not to think about how to remove pests from kitchen cabinets, you need to follow a few simple recommendations:
- Buy cereals only in transparent bags. More often visual inspection gives an idea of the quality of the cereal; if there are a lot of impurities in the packaging, then most likely the product has not been processed thoroughly enough. At the slightest suspicion, refuse to purchase. Ideally, if you know which manufacturers' products have high quality and you constantly acquire only it;
Very often, pest larvae are found in cheap cereals that are offered for sale.
- All bulk items, as well as flour, pasta, dried fruits, etc. store in airtight containers. After purchase, unpack the packaging and pour it into a container, then immediately close it tightly with a lid. Ideally, if the jars are transparent, then you will be able to see the condition of the products and immediately notice any problems if they arise;
- Do not store large amounts of flour and cereals. At room temperature they begin to rot, which is why the likelihood of bugs and moths appearing increases tenfold. In addition, large volumes are difficult to control and most often the problem is discovered only when it is impossible to save the products, and your savings turn into large costs;
- Do not buy bulk products in large packages. The likelihood that a ten or twenty kilogram bag contains pest larvae is many times higher than in small packs. In addition, it is unlikely that you will have enough containers to hermetically pack the entire volume. And even if all the food in the kitchen is stored properly, an open bag will be a potential hazard;
- Maintain order in lockers. Done at least once a month spring-cleaning with removing all the contents and wiping the walls with a disinfectant composition. Never put spilled cereals or flour in the cupboard; clean it up immediately and the likelihood of insects appearing will decrease significantly. Try to arrange the products so that they are all visible and can be visually inspected from time to time;
- Fix problems with furniture. It was already written above that cracks in wood are ideal for pests, and they live and reproduce there. Fix all problems not only in cabinets, but also on window sills and other elements.
Conclusion
Now you know about all the main pests that appear in the kitchen and can effectively deal with them. But it is better to carry out timely prevention so as not to solve such problems. The video tells Additional Information on the topic, and if you suddenly don’t understand something, write questions in the comments.
March 7, 2018If you want to express gratitude, add a clarification or objection, or ask the author something - add a comment or say thank you!
All food products must have good conditions storage Many housewives are faced with such a nuisance as the appearance of bugs in flour and cereals. There is no point in sinning with dishonesty and carelessness. After all, bugs can live in fruits, butter cookies and packaged packs of cereals.
When faced with a situation where there are bugs in cereals, how to get rid of pests is necessary to act quickly, otherwise they can spread throughout the house. Bugs in cereals can also eat furniture, boards and fabrics. Pests can attack all food supplies and even baked goods.
Despite their size, small insects can spoil food and be a source of various diseases. There is no need to delay getting rid of bugs as they can simultaneously strike large stock provisions.
Basic methods for getting rid of bugs in cereals and flour
So, let's look at the main types of beetles that can settle in cereals:
- Bread grinder- beetles light brown, up to 3 mm. It mainly settles in places with large concentrations of cereals: warehouses, bakeries, confectionery shops. They prefer to eat crackers, crackers, cookies, etc.
- Red mukoed- red beetles up to 2 mm in size. They also live in warehouses, bakeries, and bakeries. They eat rotted or damp cereals.
- Flour beetle- insects of a reddish-brown color, up to 4 mm in size. They live in kitchen cabinets, bread bins and cereal bags. They feed on flour and other bulk grains.
First of all, it is necessary to determine what bugs are in the kitchen, how to get rid of them depends on the degree of reproduction of pests in the cereal. It is a known fact that these beetles can fly, so they can freely fly into an open window.
There are ways to get rid of bugs in the kitchen:
- Throw away all existing cereals.
- Cleaning the cereal using traditional methods and placing it in a special safe container.
- Making bait poisoned with boric acid.
Sometimes it is not financially possible to reacquire the entire destroyed stock, so you have to get rid of the beetles using proven methods.
Important! If there are small bugs in the kitchen, how to get rid of them using chemicals, you need to throw away all the cereal and treat special means cabinets where it was stored. Spray chemicals on products that are too dangerous for health to consume afterwards.
In addition, you must follow all the necessary hygiene rules: do not leave food on open places and pick up trash after yourself.
Bugs in flour: how to get rid of them using heat treatment
Let's take a closer look at how to get rid of bugs in cereals and flour in the kitchen using temperature.
There are 3 ways to get rid of pests using temperature:
- Calcination in the oven. Semolina and flour can be heated at a temperature of no more than 50 degrees for more than 10 minutes (preferably up to 30 minutes). Other grains can be kept at temperatures up to 110 degrees.
- Exposure to ultraviolet light. Many beetles are absolutely intolerant to exposure sun rays. This fact can be taken into account when a problem arises, how to get rid of bugs in flour. The cereals need to be placed directly in the sun, a few hours and the beetles will go away.
- Exposure to frost. A few hours of leaving the cereal in the freezer or on the balcony (at a temperature of at least -15) will cause the existing individuals in the cereal itself to die.
Important! The listed methods for getting rid of bugs in cereals and flour will only kill insects and larvae that were located directly in the package. However, beetles can hide or lay larvae in crevices kitchen furniture, so additional processing is necessary.
There are bugs in cereals: how to get rid of them by cleaning
In order to protect yourself from the appearance of new insects, you need to take a number of measures. When bugs appear in cereals and in the kitchen, this is a kind of signal for unscheduled general cleaning.
Initially, you need to thoroughly wash the cabinets where the cereal was stored with baking soda or soapy water. Very good remedy If the problem is how to get rid of cereal bugs in the kitchen, it is necessary to treat all shelves where food is placed with a vinegar solution, in the proportion of one tablespoon per liter of water. You can place bags of pyrethrum (a type of chamomile) in the corners, the smell of which, like vinegar, can repel not only bugs, but also moths. Experts recommend treating cracks with boiling water, however, not all coatings are temperature resistant.
Any large or small bugs in the kitchen, no source will tell you how to get rid of them without throwing away at least part of the cereal. In any case, feces, larvae and pupae of beetles remain in the habitat of insects, so even if you are psychologically prepared for this, you should still sift the product through the finest sieve.
Important! You don't have to limit yourself to just cleaning the kitchen. If at least one insect remains alive, then it is able to move to another room and at the same time feed on leftover food, crumbs, etc. Therefore, it is very important to clean the entire home.
Small bugs in the kitchen: how to get rid of borax
A good option to get rid of flour bugs in the kitchen it is considered to make bait from boric acid(Boers). The value of boric acid lies in the fact that when absorbed, it begins to poison the insect’s body after some time.
There is a possibility that as many individuals as possible will eat the poison and bring it to the nest, and this will entail the death of the majority of the colony.
How the bait is made:
- Place the prepared pieces of paper on the shelves kitchen cabinets.
- Sprinkle powdered sugar (or sugar) with the addition of borax onto the leaves.
- You can also mix flour, semolina, honey, etc. with borax.
How to get rid of bugs in cereals using water
In emergency situations, when there is nothing to cook with, you can use water. The affected cereal is filled with water (can be salted), under the influence of pressure the cereal sinks down, and the insects float up. The cereal itself must then be thoroughly rinsed to remove any contamination. The remaining bugs in the cereal, how to get rid of them need to be done in several stages; after washing and calcining, it is advisable to sift everything again.
In order to avoid shock at the sight of live insects, before pouring water over the cereal, you must first calcinate it.
This method will not work if there are bugs in the flour; we have already told you how to get rid of them.
How to get rid of cereal bugs in the kitchen: additional methods Previously, people did not have the opportunity to heat under high temperature
or freeze food. More recently, spoilage of a product such as cereal was considered a great misfortune, but even then the spoiled product was given to animal feed. To prevent bugs from appearing at all, other methods were used.
- How to get rid of bugs in the kitchen using folk remedies: Using herbs and plants with strong odors.
- In places where food is stored, you can place garlic, bay leaves, cloves, and wormwood. Insects cannot tolerate all these odors. Popular and effective folk method It is considered to place metal nails in a container with grains.
- Important: before placing nails, they must be washed and dried to prevent rust from forming. It is considered the most optimal to pour the cereals into glass containers with tight-fitting lids. Glass jars
- At the same time, they can be placed on high shelves where there is access to light. Placing packets of cereal on refrigerator shelves. The refrigerator is not as easy to access as kitchen cabinets, and low temperature
To summarize, I would like to say that there are no magic methods to get rid of bugs in cereals forever. Still, you cannot be 100% sure of the products of the same store or warehouse where these products are packaged. The main key is to carefully maintain cleanliness in the kitchen and constantly treat surfaces with disinfectants.
Video on how to get rid of bugs in the kitchen
Often housewives are faced with such a problem as bugs in cereals and cupboards. The kitchen is clean, tidy, supplies are stored in thick paper containers, but uninvited guests they still find their way onto shelves and into bags.
What to do? What methods will forever get rid of bugs that have settled in millet, flour or in corners? kitchen set? There are a few effective ways to control tiny pests.
Causes
Why do bugs appear in cereals? Harmful insects live where there is enough food and there is free access to baked goods and cereals. Loosely closed bags of flour and cereals, scattered semolina or rice on the shelves attract the flour beetle, the grinder and the Suriname flour beetle. The abundance of pasta and grains attracts another pest – food moths.
Uninvited guests also spoil other types of products:
- crackers;
- cookie;
- nuts;
- dried fruits;
- food concentrates;
- bread.
The house borer settles in areas where there is a lot of dried wood and food supplies nearby. For this reason, a harmful bug often lives in the kitchen.
Important! When pests actively multiply, they populate not only the kitchen, but also move to other rooms: the pantry, the room where the owners sometimes eat in front of the TV. Bugs can be found not only in a bag of cereal or a bread box, but also among fabrics and furniture.
What kind of bugs are there in cereals?
There are several types of tiny pests that live in the kitchen:
- Mukoed Suriname. insect with unusual name prefers cereals, feels great among the abundance of bulk products. Bugs breed in elevators and warehouses: tiny eggs are impossible to distinguish naked eye. Without any special obstacles, larvae and adults enter the home from a bag of semolina, pasta or rice. Little bug(body length up to 2 mm) eats not only cereals. The pest spoils crackers, nuts, dried fruits, concentrates, cookies, drying;
- flour beetle A small bug grows up to 4 mm. The insect settles in bags of cereals, bread bins, and kitchen cabinets. The red-orange bug is clearly visible on light-colored surfaces. The pest feeds on wheat and rye flour, rice, semolina, millet, and other types of cereals;
- grinder. Insects with oval heads often get into the kitchen. The size of the pest is small - up to 3 mm. Tiny bugs with colors ranging from dark yellow to brown easily gnaw their way through cracks in the floor, window sill, and doors with their powerful jaws. Tiny insects prefer cereals, dried fruits, nuts, and sweet cookies. The house type of the beetle grinder actively feeds on wood, while the bread type enjoys sweets and pasta with the same pleasure;
- Another type of pest that often infests cereals and flour. A moth is not a bug, but lepidopteran insect, tiny butterfly. The damage caused by the reproduction of food moths and voracious larvae is comparable to the damage caused by the Suriname borer and mucous beetle.
Prevention of occurrence
Tiny bugs spoil not only food supplies, but also nerves: the fight against harmful insects gives the owner a lot of trouble. There is no need to waste time destroying pests; it is easier to prevent their occurrence.
Five rules of prevention:
- Carefully check cereals in transparent bags when purchasing, at the slightest suspicion low quality, identifying tiny larvae or bugs, refuse to purchase a spoiled product.
- After purchasing, pour flour, rice, semolina, buckwheat, pasta into a clean, always dry, glass container, and put in one of the insect repellents. Bay leaves, garlic, and cloves with a pungent odor will repel beetles from foods. Close the container with supplies tightly with a lid.
- Do not store bags of cereals and flour at home. Wholesale prices are always lower, but the bitter experience of many owners confirms the well-known expression “you can’t buy enough for your entire life.” Large volumes of bulk products often rot, causing bugs and food moths to infest them. If supplies are actively contaminated, you have to throw away the entire bag or bag of cereal; savings result in new costs.
- Monitor the cleanliness of kitchen cabinets, remove all containers every month, and wipe the shelves with vinegar diluted in water or a soap-soda solution. A prerequisite for proper storage bulk products - regular ventilation of cabinets, elimination of excess humidity.
- Cover the cracks in the floor, window sills, doors, and dry elements of kitchen furniture with a special compound. The fewer damaged surfaces, the more difficult it is for a house grinder to set up a home near a constant source of food.