Comments on: The Moths, They Like Our Food.

By: lisa

lisa — Sat, 26 Nov 2011 12:27:34 +0000

aggh. i’m dealing with the moths now and found all the advise very helpful – THANK YOU!

By: Jennifer

Jennifer — Wed, 16 Mar 2011 17:28:54 +0000

I am so happy to find this website today. Last summer we were infested with the meal worms and moths. I felt like every time I walked into the kitchen there was another worm on the ceiling. Prior to the infestation I stored most items in tupperware, airtight containers or ziplock baggies, but these little buggers still thrived. Last summer I cleaned the cupboards/pantry with vinegar and water and was vigilant about not letting crumbs spill in the cupboards and keeping an eye on everything and they seemed to have disappeared over the winter months. However, with spring coming to New England I fear that they will return. I just looked into my “Martha Stewart Homekeeping Handbook” and she recommends cedar shelf/drawer liners. Has anyone ever used these in the kitchen? I just started to explore where to buy some and found some on Amazon.com, but I am hesitant to buy them for the kitchen.

By: Jim

Jim — Mon, 05 Jul 2010 20:26:12 +0000

Indian meal moths (that have a pale band across the middle) are particularly likely to enter via packets of whole grains, wholefood peanuts etc. and they leave silk threads through food. But other, larger house moths also eat starchy food. Clothes moths (again more than one species) are the smaller, more ragged looking things.

It’s disconcerting and good to be rid of, but also bear in mind that proprietary insecticides are much more likely to be a health hazard than the meal moths. We consume ground up insects in our food every day. Meal moths can penetrate screw top jars, so choose rubber-seal jars for stored wholefood.

By: Patricia

Patricia — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 04:07:01 +0000

I am relieved to hear you say this, because I just made a huge pot of chicken with rice soup and did not discover that there were some moth maggots in the rice till after I added it to the soup, after cooking it. Ewww.

But I wasn’t about to throw out all that soup, so I’m eating it anyway.

By: Erin

Erin — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 23:00:26 +0000

Every eight weeks, I order from a food co-op, so have large amounts of flour/rice/oats/dried fruit/nuts/seeds/beans in the house all at once. I carefully check all incoming food items for the tiny cobwebby signs along the plastic bag edges that signal a moth infestation. All seeds and nuts go straight in the freezer. As stated by others, this kills any eggs. Part of my flour goes into the freezer, and the remainder goes into glass jars with airtight lids. (Not natural cork lids; larvae can burrow through. Try Ikea for great glass jars, in many sizes – you’ll later appreciate the investment!) Plastic bags, and even tupperware, do not deter food moths or their larvae. I don’t understand why, but they still manage to get in. Glass is the only method I’ve found that totally keeps them out. All other foodstuffs go into glass jars. I’ve never had a moth infestation, but a close friend has, and after helping her with clean-up, we both vowed never to go through anything like that again! After completely cleaning her kitchen cupboards, (and vacuuming them; apparently the eggs get into the tiniest nooks and crannies), all food was thrown away; newly purchased items immediately went into glass jars or the freezer, and she has had no problem since.

By: amy

amy — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 14:27:55 +0000

I am at this very instant cleaning out my cupboards due to these moths. I’ve been putting everything that is opened, like pasta, cookies, and beans in Ziploc bags. Am I wasting my time?

By: Beth

Beth — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 18:15:47 +0000

The moths that eat your clothes and the ones that like food are 2 different types of moths. The food loving ones are Indianmeal moths and cedar won’t affect them at all. They do love junk food, especially chocolate, so keep an eye on Halloween treats. Good luck in the battle. I just found my office cabinets infested thanks to a box of Girl Scout cookies I had hidden away from the rest of the family. That’s what I get for not sharing. LOL

By: trees08

trees08 — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 05:40:21 +0000

Today if began with wage of war on the culprit that has given me a run for my money in terms of throwing away all the food stuffs in my cupboards. P.s. I did find a larva in the inside of one of my spice bottles. Yessir, they get into even the freezer bags that are still unopened and lay their eggs. I think that either moths came in during a time when my husband had not yet got the screen in the kitchen window or the more obvious reason could be that I purchased infested food. I am sick about this, what wIth the cost of food.
I have worked in the cupboards tonight by emptying out all boxes, and plactics. The worse infestation was in a can (which i thought had an air-tight lid) of raisens.
Wish me luck, people, because I am taking the advise all the sites I have visited on the web today and having found this page, i am using Vinegar for cleaning, freezing new grains and using Lavander oil. Also, I found a trap that attracts moths with pheromones.

By: Wanda

Wanda — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 18:11:40 +0000

Wow! well I’m sure that we all have probably ingested the eggs that these nasty little moths lay without knowing it and although the thought repulses me neither me or any of my family members have gotten sick by this,but that is about all I can do. I cannot knowingly eat any food that has been contaminated by these. If any of you have ever seen those worms crawling in the stuff the infest you would think twice before eating the stuff. Maybe it won’t kill me but the thought alone it’s enough to keep from doing it. I’m sorry I just don’t share the last person love for bugs. I will continue to keep vigil and freeze everything.

By: Elizabeth

Elizabeth — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 16:00:35 +0000

I’m a natural-type mom as well, and one who also minored in entomology as an undergrad. And I’m neat and clean as well, so don’t go reading any slovenliness into my comment. But here is my take, and I’m sure it will gross some of you out, but I stand by it. Much of the world eats insects, with no problem. And many of you ingest them all the time, unawares. The universe is set up this way, and that’s alright. These are not health-hazardous issues; as moms, the problem for us is really psychological, one of “grossness,” as well concern that we shouldn’t look like rotten housekeepers. As a woman who has NEVER suffered from or understood the near-universal aversion of women to insects (in fact, they are fascinating creations), my solution to the infestations you describe is JUST TO EAT THE FOOD ANYWAY. Yes, eat it anyway, without even giving a second thought. I use brown rice, and I’ll put it in some water, let whatever rises to the top do so for several minutes, then pour off the water, add the recommended amount of cooking water, and then cook and eat. Look at it this way: anything in there increases the protein count, and the boiling will kill off anything else you may be (irrationally, I believe) worrying about. So stop throwing out your grains and your money with them. Store in the freezer if you must, but otherwise, cut the irrationality, get over it, and use the stuff. You will be fine.