How to get rid of food moths in an apartment. How can you get rid of food moths in the kitchen and apartment? Food moth, how to get rid of it using folk remedies

"Mosquitall"

This manufacturer offers two types of sections. Some are simple paper ones, like the previous brand, the other are in the form of small plastic containers with powder inside, which are attached to the wall of the cabinet.

Nowadays, remedies for food moths are very common, both folk and store-bought. You can choose any one, depending on your preferences.

Preventing the appearance of food moths in the kitchen

In the future, to prevent the incident with the appearance of moths from happening again, add a clove of garlic or a bay leaf to dry foods. Lavender wrapped in gauze will also work. The repellent effect can be enhanced with essential oils. For example: mint, lavender, fir oil, tansy oil. The smell of these products repels the larvae, and they are unlikely to settle in such places.

Also always remember:

• When buying dry foods in a store, be careful. The packaging must not be damaged and there must be no insects inside.
• Store food in airtight containers.
• Use basic preventive measures: folk or store-bought.
• Keep the room clean.
• Close during warm seasons ventilation ducts and windows with gauze to prevent moths from entering from the street.

Olga Nikitina

Reading time: 8 minutes

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Every housewife can get a gray-brown butterfly (food moth). The reason may be purchased bags of cereal, flour and other dry bulk products that are contaminated with moth larvae. Moths are attracted to cereals that have been stored for a long time, and, going to their goal, neither closed packs nor plastic bags stop them.

How to get rid of moths in food?

First you need to get rid of cereals that have already been visited by moths.

After a thorough audit, you can fight food moths with proven folk remedies:

• Moths cannot stand the smell of lavender and citrus fruits. Laying orange and lemon peels in the corners of cabinets, as well as lavender oil applied to cotton swabs or a small bouquet of these flowers wrapped in gauze, will help get rid of food moths.

• Treating cabinets with vinegar is also effective. First, you need to thoroughly wash all hard-to-reach places and crevices with soapy water, ventilate the room, and then wipe the entire surface of the cabinet where bulk goods are stored with vinegar.

• Garlic will come to the rescue in the fight against moths. If you put garlic cloves in containers where cereals are stored, its smell will repel uninvited guests. The smell of cereals and their taste qualities garlic has no effect.

• Bay leaves are also not to the liking of food moths. Needs to be spread out bay leaves along the perimeter of shelves with cereals, as well as in jars where products that attract moths are stored.

• Moths are repelled by the smells of cloves, geraniums, wild rosemary, tansy, fir, rosemary, basil. You should apply aromatic oils with these scents to cotton pads and place them in places where moths may appear.

• Moths do not like the smell of wormwood. Small bushes of wormwood, placed in storage areas for foods that moths love, will repel them.

• Leaves walnut having a specific odor, help well in the fight against moths. It is enough to place a few fresh nut leaves in the corners of the cabinet so that the moth will forget the path to the products stored there for a long time.

• A proven remedy is natural camphor and camphor essential oil . The camphor smell will prevent moths from settling in food cabinets.

• The smell of tobacco is unpleasant. Tobacco laid out on shelves is good remedy from food moths.

• Strong odors repel moths. You can, after thorough cleaning and disposal of contaminated products, spray perfume in the cabinet. Thus, the smell unpleasant for moths will prevent the food from spoiling.

• After buying cereal in a store, be sure to bake it in the oven, and then pour into glass containers, cans or a plastic container with a tight lid;
• Keep the kitchen clean: wipe the shelves with a bite, ventilate, use plant oils with an odor unpleasant for moths;
• Review inventory periodically If necessary, fry long-lasting cereals in the oven for 15 minutes at a temperature of 60 degrees;
• It’s worth clearing out the littered corners of the house: things that have been lying around for a long time, grandmother’s dowry (shawls, feather beds, blouses, pillows, rolled up carpets). After all, moths can live not only in cereals, but also in things. And, if you do not eliminate her lair completely, then after a while she will visit the kitchen again.

In the kitchen - dangerous pest various food products. It multiplies very quickly, spoils various cereals, flour, and can even feed on dried fruits, nuts and bread. Once infected with it, products become unfit for consumption, and their complete deterioration occurs quite quickly. About how to get rid of food moths and some of its other species, as well as important nuances Let's talk about this pest control further.

Urgent measures to get rid of moths in the kitchen

There are many signs of moths in the kitchen: these are small brown butterflies under the ceiling and on the walls, cocoons in flour and cereals, and even crawling on the walls kitchen cabinets pinkish caterpillars. All these signs clearly indicate that food moths have appeared in the house.

To quickly and effectively get rid of this pest, it is useful to have an understanding of the biology of food moths and modern highly effective anti-moth agents. It is important to understand that occasionally running around the kitchen with a slipper and destroying moth butterflies is a very ineffective control option, which simply creates the appearance of destroying food moths.

The majority of pests (larvae) continue to actively develop in contaminated food products.

On a note

In its development, food moths go through several stages, and in order to get rid of moths in the kitchen, you need to destroy butterflies, larvae, and moth eggs. It should be remembered that there is no seasonality in the reproduction and spread of moths: they can appear at any time of the year, so you need to get rid of food moths as soon as possible after its discovery.

You need to start getting rid of kitchen moths with the larvae. They are the ones who spoil food by gluing cereals into small, characteristic-looking lumps and leaving tortuous passages under the surface of fruits and vegetables.

This is interesting

Moth larvae are fairly easy to destroy. In order to get rid of food moths, the first thing you need to do is go through all the food supplies in the kitchen, clean the pantry, checking the condition of the most stale supplies.

Small gray pellets at the bottom of bags and jars, glued grains of cereals covered with a grayish coating are evidence of moth damage to the product. You can get rid of moths in cereals by heating them in the oven or in a frying pan, or freezing them in the freezer for several days. To get rid of cereal moths, it is enough to place the infected product in a cold environment below minus 10° C for 2-3 days, or in a warm place above +60° C for 1-1.5 hours. However, if more than 20% of the product is contaminated, it is better to throw it away altogether.

The best way to get rid of food moths in an apartment is mechanically. You can simply swat flying pests, or you can hang adhesive tapes or special sticky traps in places where they spread. It is irrational to use insecticidal aerosols in these cases, but when simultaneously baiting cockroaches or house ants, they will give a good result against moths.

Thus, it is quite possible to get rid of a small amount of moths in food by checking food supplies, calcining infected cereals at high temperature, or by freezing them.

Destruction of moths in cabinets and furniture

You need to understand that complete elimination of moths in the kitchen is impossible without disinfection and disinfection of the entire pest habitat. Moth eggs can be found in the smallest cavities of furniture, and without destroying them, it will be problematic to clean the kitchen of the pest.

To get rid of food moths, you need to know the enemy by sight. Below in the photo are varieties of food moths:

• barn moth
• flour moth
• potato moth
• grain moth
• mill moth
• dried fruit fire.

You can get rid of kitchen moths using a wide range of special chemicals. In general, they can be divided into liquidation insecticides - insecticides containing toxic substances and destroying existing insects, and repellents - created on a plant basis and repelling new pests. The most common form of release of insecticides is aerosols.

There are many different sprays that you can use to get rid of moths in your kitchen. Among the most popular are Raptor from moths, Armol, Antimol and.

Raptor Moth Defense is used against moth butterflies and their larvae. Sprayed on furniture, including wood, clothing, carpets, effective for 12 months or until the first wash.

Armol anti-moth aerosol has an immediate effect against butterflies and a prolonged effect against moth larvae. Used to clean and protect furniture and carpets from insects. Valid for 6 months.

Anti-mol Raid is used on clothes, fur and fabrics of any type, remains effective for a year or until the first wash.

Aerosol "Combat SuperSpray" has a universal effect against most flying and crawling insect pests. Sprayed in the corners of rooms, at the junction of furniture and in places where insects spread, it is safe for animals.

“Recently I was horrified to discover moths in cereals in my kitchen. It’s unclear where it came from, but the larvae crawl in huge numbers. I decided to get rid of it radically - I washed everything, threw away the spoiled food and sprayed it with Raptor spray. It turned out that even after my cleaning, insects still remained in some places. I removed it again and sprayed it. Now I enjoy the cleanliness.”

Diana, Rostov-on-Don

When using insecticidal agents, it is important not to allow the drugs to come into contact with food!

How to protect things and products from moths and their larvae

The mechanism of action of repellents is that they repel insects and prevent them from laying eggs. Most often, repellents come in the form of tablets, plates and briquettes, some of which may contain naphthalene and camphor.

It should be remembered that naphthalene has pronounced carcinogenic properties, therefore it cannot be used in residential premises, and when choosing a repellent, you should always check its composition. Because of this, their use in the kitchen is generally limited and it is not advisable to use them near food.

To get rid of food moths, you can use lavender and fir oils. Cotton pads soaked in these oils should be placed in areas where the pest appears. And to get rid of grain moths in the kitchen in general, you should place a few tablets on top of cabinets or under furniture. The most famous repellents are “Antimol” and “Dezmol” tablets, “Prayer” plates, “Arsenal”, “Fitocid”, “Zitol”, “Gela” cassettes.

“My grandmother always laid out bunches of dried lavender in the kitchen against cereal moths. You can get rid of it, she said, but it’s better if it doesn’t exist at all. When we moved to a new apartment, after spring cleaning I put lavender tablets in different nooks and change them periodically. For a year and a half there was not a single moth in the house.”

Anna Melnik, Krasnodar

Moth sections

Moth sections are considered the most rational and effective means preventive control of moths. They may come in lavender, tangerine, or chamomile scents, or they may not have any scent at all.

Generally speaking, sections are designed to protect things in wardrobes, but they can also help get rid of food moths in the kitchen. Being, in fact, a fumigation agent, they emit active substances, preventing the reproduction of moths and, in addition, scaring off adult individuals (butterflies).

Among famous brands anti-moth sections – Raptor, Mosquitall, Globol.

The Raptor moth section is designed to protect wool and fur products. Helps get rid of both adult butterflies and moth larvae in the kitchen. Sections should be changed every 4 months.

Mosquitall sections provide comprehensive protection from moths. They have little effect against pest larvae and eggs; it is advisable to use them as preventive measures. Valid for 6 months.

“I always use Mosquitall sections to protect my clothes. Recently I decided to use them in the kitchen - there was a case of grain moths appearing. I managed to get rid of it by throwing away all the cereal, now I would like to avoid its reappearance. The Mosquitall section has a very convenient shape and a hook with which you can hang it even on a cornice. In addition, the section has a special slider to mark the beginning of the time of use. I hope the kitchen is now as secure as the wardrobe."

Natalia Korotkova, Novgorod

Globol sections have original design and protect the space from both moths and caterpillars. They contain natural lavender oil. One section is enough for 6 months.

Folk remedies for moths

In addition to chemical anti-moth preparations, folk remedies also have some effectiveness. These include tobacco leaves, pepper, fresh geranium and nettle, wormwood, mint, orange peel, fresh and dried lavender flowers, laundry soap and others.

To repel moths, a small amount of natural repellent is usually placed in the depths of the kitchen cabinets. The smell emanating from these products will repel adult moths and prevent them from laying eggs. But folk remedies have practically no effect on food moth larvae - you need to remember this.

To get rid of flour moths, folk wisdom recommends sifting the flour, then drying it in the oven, and then storing it along with a few cloves of garlic. Salt can also be used to fight moths.

A popular recipe for getting rid of fruit moths is to rinse the product in salt water. Practice shows that this method only works when the product is slightly contaminated.

Prevention methods against moths

It is much more effective to prevent the very appearance of moths in the kitchen and in the house than to later deal with the results of its vital activity.

First of all, this concerns stocks food products. There is no need to massively store cereals, flour and pasta in the kitchen - you should buy food for no more than a week. At the same time, give preference to better-known, well-established brands. Keep bulk products must be in tightly sealed containers.

If possible, it is not recommended to leave fruits and vegetables on outdoors. You can get rid of discovered fruit moths by placing the fruit in the refrigerator. If you suspect tubers, you should sort them out and get rid of the infected ones as soon as possible. And of course, the best prevention against moths is to carefully check all the products you buy.

In conclusion, we note that moths can live equally successfully in rural house, and in a fashionable apartment, so simply keeping the house clean does not guarantee that the pest will not come to visit you. Proper use of preventive measures and measures will more likely protect your home from food moth invasion.

Useful tips for getting rid of clothes moths in the closet and food moths in the kitchen

Ecology of everyday life: Kitchen moths multiply very quickly, and getting rid of them is not very easy, but with the right approach, it is quite possible.

Kitchen moths multiply very quickly, and getting rid of them is not very easy, but with the right approach, it is quite possible.

Moths lay eggs in almost any dry food (tea, nuts, cereals, dried fruits and many others) that they can penetrate. Soon the larvae of food moths appear, which spoil the food, not only by gnawing holes in it, but also with their excrement, as well as the skins left behind after degeneration into adult insects. It is clear that it is no longer possible to eat foods spoiled by moths.

Kitchen moths easily tolerate lack of air and lack of ventilation. It can live well and reproduce well in a hermetically sealed jar if the purchased dried fruits or cereals contained insect eggs or larvae.

HOW TO REMOVE MOTHS IN THE KITCHEN

If a moth or traces of its larvae in cereals are noticed in the kitchen, it is necessary to remove it as soon as possible. Considering that the butterflies themselves do not eat anything, and the eggs and larvae are found in food, it is quite difficult to breed this insect. But, knowing the peculiarities of his life, you can understand how to get rid of food moths at home and protect your food supplies from their appearance in the future.

The first step is to review all bulk product inventories. If there are moths in cereals, legumes, nuts or flour, these products must be thrown away immediately - no one will use them for food anyway. If there are products that are not badly damaged by the larvae, then you can try to save them - sort them out and heat them in the microwave or oven for 15 minutes at a temperature of 60-70 degrees, after cooling, put them in an airtight container for storage. This method will not harm the products, but it will destroy the remaining oviposition and insect larvae. In the same way, you can process all dry bulk products in which moths can settle, both stored at home and brought from stores.

Shelves of cabinets and tables, as well as containers for storing food, must be thoroughly washed outside and inside. All grooves and crevices where insects can hide should be coated with table vinegar, then rinsed clean water. The doors of tables and cabinets should be left open until completely dry.
In case there are still insects somewhere, a trap for food moths, which should be placed directly in the cabinet between the containers, will help get rid of them. The remaining butterflies, attracted by the smell, will stick to the adhesive tape and die. In any case, this measure will not be superfluous: firstly, based on the presence of adhered insects, it can be concluded that the pest could not be completely removed and repeated treatment is required, and secondly, the adhered insects will no longer be able to produce offspring. The Aeroxon food moth trap has proven itself well, and the well-known Raptor trap is also suitable.

PROVEN FOLK METHODS OF COMBATING MOTHS.

Kitchen moths cannot tolerate Fresh air, therefore, regular ventilation of the kitchen, as well as kitchen cabinets and tables, can be used as a remedy for food moths. To prevent larvae from appearing, it is important to keep adult butterflies out of the room.

Garlic is often used as a deterrent, a clove of which is placed in cabinets and tables, as well as in containers with flour and cereals, although there are claims that cereal moths can adapt to its smell. To get rid of harmful insects, it is better to place bags of pepper, oregano, bay leaves or cloves on the shelves. The smell of spices will not spoil the food, but it will repel butterflies. In addition to spices, peppermint, lavender and sweet clover are good repellents to this insect. Bags of dried herbs are placed in cabinets. Food moths do not tolerate the smell of citrus fruits, so orange and lemon peels will also help get rid of them.
It will be useful to place a pot of geraniums on the windowsill in the kitchen - a well-known preventative against many insects.
But how to deal with food moths if they constantly fly into the apartment from somewhere? Only people can help here mechanical methods fight: ventilation holes and the windows must be covered with a thick mosquito net, and all cracks through which insects can enter the apartment must be sealed or sealed.
For obvious reasons, it is not advisable to use strong-smelling substances and insecticides in the kitchen. But if, in order to get rid of moths, you still decide to resort to chemicals, you must strictly follow the instructions for use and use personal protective equipment.

Knowing how to get rid of food moths, this will not be so difficult. Once all measures have been taken to get rid of moths and larvae, it is necessary to check products for their presence for several weeks before use. In addition, acquiring the habit of constantly taking preventive measures against kitchen moths, such as ventilation, bags of aromatic herbs in cabinets and geraniums on the windowsill, will not require much labor and time, but will help prevent the appearance of this enemy in the house. published