Moths in the cupboards

This is the place to discuss not just allotments but all general gardening problems and queries which don't fit into the specific categories below.
(formerly allotments and tips, hints and problems)
User avatar
Andy Hamilton
Site Admin
Site Admin
Posts: 6631
Joined: Tue Oct 26, 2004 11:06 pm
Location: Bristol
Contact:

Moths in the cupboards

Post: # 89877Post Andy Hamilton »

Seems that we can't keep on top of the moth problem in our kitchen cupboards. I have had to throw away quite an amount of flour, rice and dry goods. The little b@##rds have cost me a fair few quid.

I've cleaned up the cupboards put newspaper down and have killed a load of the adults. They keep coming back and I am not sure why, is there any way of repelling them? Or killing them off once and for all. I am guessing a really big clean will sort it out once and for, perhaps I have missed bits when I have tried to sort this out before.
First we sow the seeds, nature grows the seeds then we eat the seeds. Neil Pye
My best selling Homebrew book Booze for Free
and...... Twitter
The Other Andy Hamilton - Drinks & Foraging

User avatar
Annpan
Site Admin
Site Admin
Posts: 5464
Joined: Thu Dec 14, 2006 2:43 pm
Location: Lanarkshire, Scotland

Post: # 89881Post Annpan »

Firstly, keep all your kitchen cupboard contents in glass or plastic tubs... ask on freecycle for some coffee jars, and you'll be sorted.

I would clean out the cupboard and then wipe it, all round with Lavender or lemon EO, but I have just done a search and found that moths are repelled by BASIL, BAY LEAF, CEDAR, CLOVES, EUCALYPTUS, LAVENDER, MINTS, EXCEPT PEPPERMINT, PATCHOULI, PENNYROYAL, BLACKPEPPER, PYRETHRUM DAISY, ROSEMARY, RUE, SOUTHERNWOOD, SANTOLINA, TANSY, THYME, WORMWOOD - I am not shouting, its a cut and paste job :mrgreen:



I have recently thrown out a few bags of flour that had maggoty thing in them... yuk... and I have yet to follow any of the above advice :oops:
Ann Pan

"Some days you're the dog,
some days you're the lamp-post"

My blog
My Tea Cosy Shop
Some photos
My eBay

User avatar
Hawthorn
Barbara Good
Barbara Good
Posts: 149
Joined: Tue Mar 27, 2007 11:31 am

Post: # 89882Post Hawthorn »

Stick a couple of bay leaves in the cupboards. Worked for us. Plus, added bonus, it repels flour weevils too :)

Martin
A selfsufficientish Regular
A selfsufficientish Regular
Posts: 2029
Joined: Sat May 06, 2006 8:50 am
Location: Nr Heathfield, East Sussex
Contact:

Post: # 89888Post Martin »

when you're next out in the country, keep your eyes open, there's lots of "stable manure" available - what you need is the rarer "UNstable manure" - saucer of that in the cupboard - next moth that lands on it - Kaboom! - problem solved! :wink:
http://solarwind.org.uk - a small company in Sussex sourcing, supplying, and fitting alternative energy products.
Amateurs encouraged - very keen prices and friendly helpful service!

MKG
Site Admin
Site Admin
Posts: 5139
Joined: Fri Mar 07, 2008 5:15 pm
Location: North Notts.

Post: # 89904Post MKG »

Mothballs - put a couple in your hand and squeeze. That particular moth will avoid your kitchen like the plague in future.

Shirley
A selfsufficientish Regular
A selfsufficientish Regular
Posts: 7025
Joined: Fri Sep 30, 2005 9:05 am
Location: Manchester
Contact:

Post: # 89906Post Shirley »

MKG wrote:Mothballs - put a couple in your hand and squeeze. That particular moth will avoid your kitchen like the plague in future.
ROFLMAO! :cheers: :mrgreen: :lol:
Shirley
NEEPS! North East Eco People's Site

My photos on Flickr

Don't forget to check out the Ish gallery on Flickr - and add your own photos there too. http://www.flickr.com/groups/selfsufficientish/

baldowrie
A selfsufficientish Regular
A selfsufficientish Regular
Posts: 812
Joined: Tue Aug 29, 2006 8:37 am
Contact:

Post: # 89947Post baldowrie »

Annpan

I have recently thrown out a few bags of flour that had maggoty thing in them
They were probably weevils and they would have already been in the flour. They are, I was told, harmless but still I wouldn't like to eat them!

I haven't seen them in flour for years, but then my flour doesn't hang around very long these days either.

Andy it appears you have a bit of pest problem :wink: First slugs and now moths

User avatar
Hawthorn
Barbara Good
Barbara Good
Posts: 149
Joined: Tue Mar 27, 2007 11:31 am

Post: # 89953Post Hawthorn »

Baldowrie, I've had problems with this......mainly from the Tescos smart price stuff.

Karen_D
Barbara Good
Barbara Good
Posts: 185
Joined: Mon Feb 06, 2006 11:51 am

Post: # 89961Post Karen_D »

Flour weevils often arrive in the flour. One method is to wrap the flour and stick it in the freezer for 24 hours to kill off any eggs.

User avatar
Thurston Garden
A selfsufficientish Regular
A selfsufficientish Regular
Posts: 1455
Joined: Fri May 25, 2007 3:19 pm
Location: Scottish Borders
Contact:

Post: # 90054Post Thurston Garden »

Andy just keep you wallet shut when in the kitchen :wink:
Thurston Garden.

http://www.thurstongarden.wordpress.com
Greenbelt is a Tory Policy and the Labour Party intends to build on it. (John Prescott)

User avatar
Annpan
Site Admin
Site Admin
Posts: 5464
Joined: Thu Dec 14, 2006 2:43 pm
Location: Lanarkshire, Scotland

Post: # 90076Post Annpan »

baldowrie wrote:
Annpan

I have recently thrown out a few bags of flour that had maggoty thing in them
They were probably weevils and they would have already been in the flour. They are, I was told, harmless but still I wouldn't like to eat them!

eeuugh! :pale:

I'd never come across anything like it before and it ruined my muffin baking plans for the day... extra disturbing that they come in the flour already :pale:
Ann Pan

"Some days you're the dog,
some days you're the lamp-post"

My blog
My Tea Cosy Shop
Some photos
My eBay

MKG
Site Admin
Site Admin
Posts: 5139
Joined: Fri Mar 07, 2008 5:15 pm
Location: North Notts.

Post: # 90080Post MKG »

Couldn't resist ... Just cook the smaller ones ... the lesser of two weevils

User avatar
Hawthorn
Barbara Good
Barbara Good
Posts: 149
Joined: Tue Mar 27, 2007 11:31 am

Post: # 90081Post Hawthorn »

*groans* :lol:

User avatar
smwon
Tom Good
Tom Good
Posts: 82
Joined: Sat Feb 23, 2008 4:54 am
Location: Northern Califorina USA
Contact:

Post: # 90094Post smwon »

:lol: OMGosh! I had a problem with grain moths for a while as well. I threw everything out and then, when I brought grains and flour home, I stuck it in the freezer overnight. I still had the moths flying around so I made sure I didn't leave any grain or flour opened for any length of time. Shut it up as quickly as possible and soon I didn't have them any more... whew... nothing like having webs and larva in my food supply... totally ick! I also stored them in either hard plastic containers or glass ones.

baldowrie
A selfsufficientish Regular
A selfsufficientish Regular
Posts: 812
Joined: Tue Aug 29, 2006 8:37 am
Contact:

Post: # 90126Post baldowrie »

annpan

I'd never come across anything like it before and it ruined my muffin baking plans for the day
Used to be common when I was a girl :wink:

Post Reply