2005 Year in Review

Unwanted Pantry Guests

Indian meal moths

Source: James Schuster, Extension Educator, Horticulture, schuster@uiuc.edu

The best way to prevent troublesome pantry insects that contaminate food may be to freeze birdseed, said a University of Illinois Extension horticulture educator.

"Many people think the pantry insects such as Indian meal moths are coming into their homes because their food is contaminated. This happens occasionally but it is the least common way these insects get into the home," said James Schuster. "More often the insects come in on dried cat and dog food.

"However, most often the different kinds of insects that are considered 'pantry insects' invade our homes via wild and domestic bird food."

Insects are in birdseed in all forms--eggs, larvae, pupa, and even adults. The larvae may be feeding in the food while the adults may be looking to lay more eggs. Eggs and pupa can be in the food or in or on the packaging material.

"Once the pantry insects are in the warm environment of your home, the life cycles often start to overlap," he said. "Depending on how soon in the fall you brought in the contaminated seed or grain product, emerging adults appear sometime from just before Thanksgiving Day or later than New Year's Day. The insects will continue to emerge through the rest of the year unless they are controlled. Each successive generation is larger than its predecessor."

To prevent this Malthusian cycle from engaging, Schuster recommends freezing birdseed less than 24 hours after it is brought into the house.

"If the birdseed does not freeze within 24 hours, the insects will start making alcohol in their 'blood' and will survive the freezing process," he explained. "If the bird food is frozen slowly, then the birdseed needs to be put into an airtight container and kept at room temperature so that the insects lose their alcohol, which takes about two or more weeks.

"Once the insects are alcohol-free, re-freeze the birdseed quickly. No matter where you store the birdseed, keep it in an airtight container."

If the birdseed is stored outside, consider storing it in an airtight container that is, in turn, kept in a steel garbage can onto which the lid can be chained.

"This helps keep raccoons and squirrels from eating through the rubber or plastic airtight container and eating the birdseed," Schuster said.

If insects are already flying and crawling in the home, sanitation is the only recommended control. "Contaminated human food should be discarded," he said. "All non-contaminated human food and any dried pet food should be frozen quickly and stored in airtight containers. Keep the food stored in airtight containers for the next six months. Open the containers only long enough to remove the necessary food.

"All cupboards, cracks, and crevices should be thoroughly washed with a strong soap and water solution. Rinse off the soapy water and dry. Do not use an insecticide to control these insects in the home."

by  Editor, theCity1.com
October 3, 2005