Posts: 1,059
Threads: 97
Joined: Mar 2009
Kelena, the bugs are already in the flour. Well, their eggs are. I looked into this when we had pantry beetles a few years back in Calif. Apparently grocery stores are notorious breeding grounds. Another yuk!! Thank goodness we put the little pre-buggers in 350-degree ovens! I will be keeping my flour in the fridge from now on! Hadn't thought of rice. Another culprit: dry dog food. I found 'em in a new box of Milk Bones once. Those MB guys don't even put the product in a plastic bag in that box. I always freeze them now. Kills the bugs and doggie likes the cold treats.
Posts: 1,100
Threads: 6
Joined: Nov 2010
If you see little narrow moths around your house, about half an inch long with the front third dirty white and the rest dark gray, those are Indian meal moths that eat flour and rice. If they're already inside, both they and the beetles can chew through plastic bags (and the adult beetles will sometimes eat their way in as well). Picture here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indianmeal_Moth
Posts: 604
Threads: 50
Joined: Apr 2009
I was told that to kill the eggs you could freeze your flour, etc for 24 hours, and then store it. I have a propane fridge and it is wetter than anyplace in the house. So far, stuff stored in those plastic containers with seals and a latch have not produced bugs or mold. Yeah, only 8 months here, and I hardly ever open them, I am sure that makes a difference. Sometimes I am forced to cook, but I avoid anything that makes dirty dishes as hard and as long as possible. Luckily for me, Cory likes to grill.
Peace and long life
Posts: 1,059
Threads: 97
Joined: Mar 2009
I wish we had "like" buttons. Lots of good info here. Indian meal moths? Who knew?
Posts: 252
Threads: 59
Joined: May 2004
quote:
Where did you get the food grade silica gel packs?
actually for that matter, where do you get the regular silica gel pacs?
I'd like to know where you got them also - tried googling and was overwhelmed by possibilities - would appreciate knowing a good, reliable vendor. Mahalo.
You can tell yourself anything is too difficult, or you can just do it. And you do not need to reconstruct your worldview or take issue with others. ~ SUSAN GREGORY THOMAS
I don't know how I got over the hill without getting to the top.
Posts: 1,679
Threads: 203
Joined: Dec 2005
Here is a link to an eBay search.
http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=p3984.m570.l1313&_nkw=silica+gel+packs&_sacat=See-All-Categories If there is something to be had or desired, the first place I check is eBay! If it isn't there at that time, quite often you'll see an alternate location to check at the bottom of all the listings.
Royall
edit to say: I didn't add "FOODGRADE" to the search. This one I did and there is one hit but several links to follow below it.
http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_nkw=food...+gel+packs&_sacat=0&_odkw=silica+gel+packs&_osacat=0&_trksid=p3286.c0.m270.l1313
Hale O Na Mea Pa`ani
