Food moth can be a real scourge in the kitchen. When the insect has managed to develop vigorous activity in the apartment, the fight against it can take a lot of time and effort. Measures must be taken as early as possible. If it was possible to find a mole in only one food container, then we can say that it was lucky, and by simply throwing out the spoiled product, you can get rid of it. An overly calm attitude to this issue can lead to the rapid spread of the pest, but then real problems will appear.
Food moth can be a real scourge in the kitchen
The essence of the pest
Food and material moths have much in common and belong to the family of butterflies. The main representatives are barn moths of several types. An adult insect is no more than 10-12 mm in length, with a predominance of gray, beige and dark brown colors.
When the insect has managed to develop vigorous activity in the apartment, the fight against it can take a lot of time and effort.
What does a food moth look like? In appearance, the following main features stand out: small size, hairy body, the presence of fringe along the border of the wings, large, disproportionate eyes, antennae with increased sensitivity. In general, the appearance of the insect is rather inconspicuous, discreet. On the wings, a pattern is noticeable that is different for all types of butterflies. The length of the wings is 6-8 mm.
When considering the harm done, one must remember the entire given family: pupae, larvae. The moth itself is not capable of destroying food, because does not have a mouthpiece at all. At this stage, the insect has one task - to give offspring. Insect larvae are very voracious. In appearance, they are very similar to each other - a yellowish segmented body up to 14-16 mm long, ending in a darker head. The paws of the larva are very tenacious, which allows free movement.
Sunflower fireball, or sweep
Homoeosoma nebulella belongs to the superfamily Pyraloidea and is a malicious pest of sunflower. Distributed in Europe and in the western half of Asia. The caterpillars are fed by the thistle, jacob, tansy and daisy. Adults damage sunflowers, safflower, asters.
The female firefly lays eggs in the anthers of flowers of plants belonging to the Asteraceae family. The hatched larvae use the generative parts of the flower for feeding. The adult caterpillar is distinguished by a yellow-brown body, along which three dark stripes are located. The body length is 1.5 cm. Having finished the feeding process, the larvae descend into the upper layers of the soil, where pupation takes place. The wingspan is no more than 3 cm.
The caterpillar is colored gray and has three stripes and black spiracles. The head is yellow. The maximum body length is 1.3 cm.
The caterpillar uses different parts of flowers, achenes, leaves of the basket wrapper for feeding. Sunflower inflorescences are entwined with silks and contaminated with excrement.
Adults are heterosexual. The wingspan of these inconspicuous butterflies can reach 3 cm.
The most radical control measures are the cultivation of sunflower varieties that are resistant to fire, the use of effective chemicals.
What pests are found
Speaking of food moth, as a rule, we mean a grain moth, without revealing any differences, and it can be determined by spoiled products - cereals, groceries, nuts. In fact, there are different types of moths, which, although similar to each other, have their own specifics.
Interpretation of dreams: why does a mole dream
The following main types of moths can be distinguished:
- The mill moth is less common. She is less striking, having a rather plain color.
- Flour moth (flour moth) is the most common pest in conventional cuisine in both rural and urban areas.
- The southern barn moth (moth) has a beautiful, original pattern on the wings. It is the most difficult to deal with it.
- The cocoa moth is common and is very similar to the thing moth. Has an inconspicuous slightly yellowish tint of the wings.
In general, a food moth is difficult to distinguish from a clothing variety, and therefore a conclusion is made about an insect in its habitat. In everyday life, other types of moths are accepted - with a classification according to their preferred food. That is why such concepts as cereal, nut, pea and other moths are used. The cereal variety is found in buckwheat, millet, rice, etc., and the nutty variety is found inside the nut.
Insect larvae are very voracious
How to prevent the appearance of caterpillars
Preventive steps are most effective against the appearance of a wax moth - then methods of struggle may not be needed at all if you take care of storing sushi in advance.
Airing the store, keeping spare frames separate from the bees, timely replacing old honeycombs with new ones are the main measures, but there are safety measures.
To prevent the appearance of honey moths, plants are used whose smell is repulsive to a harmful insect. To do this, frames are folded into a box, under the lid and at the bottom of which plant raw materials are generously poured, and then corked. In the spring, these honeycombs remain clean and intact.
Used for these purposes:
Another proven remedy is garlic gruel... It can be used to rub frames, tie them into bags and hang them inside the honeycomb storage.
Gallery: food moth (25 photos)
Specificity of insect development
The full developmental cycle of a moth includes several characteristic stages: eggs, larva, pupa, butterfly. Its duration is usually 50-60 days, and an adult butterfly lives no more than 6-7 days without eating anything.
A butterfly emerges from a cocoon (pupa) and immediately solves the problem of reproduction. By releasing special pheromones, it attracts males and mates actively. After copulation, males die, and females begin to lay eggs. Clutch is carried out in several places, and the total number of eggs is more than 100 pieces. After the completion of the last clutch, the butterfly dies.
From the eggs laid, larvae hatch, which immediately begin to quickly gain weight due to active nutrition. During this period, they are able to consume a variety of products: cereals, flour, sugar, cocoa, nuts, dried fruits, bread, crackers, cookies, some spices, unmilled grain, i.e. almost everything that comes their way. Gradually, the larvae envelop themselves in fibers, creating the basis for a cocoon. The period of transformation of the larva into a pupa lasts about 10-12 days, while it reaches 14-16 mm in length and gains the required body weight. The transformation of the larva into a butterfly inside the cocoon occurs in just a few days.
Predatory moth - who is she: types of insects, their features
The following features of the life of an insect can be noted. Optimal conditions for his life: temperature of the order of - + 24 ... + 26 ° C with air humidity 45-55%.At temperatures below + 18 ... + 20 ° C, the development of moths slows down, and the full cycle can take 3-5 months. The pest can tolerate short-term cold or heat. In one insect population, as a rule, 2 generations have time to develop during the year, which ensures the rapid settlement of the entire kitchen space.
Lifestyle and reproduction
For reproduction, the moth lays small eggs, up to 1 millimeter in diameter, on the back of the leaves. And the larvae that have grown from these eggs turn into pupae up to 3 centimeters long in a month. Then, after two weeks, an adult butterfly emerges from the pupa. In Russia, in the warm maritime climate, which implies the Black Sea coast, three or four generations of moths live per year.
Where does the pest come from
In practice, even perfect order in the kitchen cannot guarantee the absence of food moths. Despite the fact that the butterfly is considered a bad flyer, it is able to travel. Often, her path to the kitchen runs through a vent or open window. It is especially easy to spread in places where a large number of products are stored - in warehouses, in a barn, in a store. The moth is able to penetrate the bag or bag through the smallest holes and lay eggs there.
When buying prepackaged food in a store or bazaar, a person cannot look inside the package. As a result, he brings eggs or pest larvae to his kitchen. It is good if the hostess immediately detects their presence in the products and takes the necessary measures. Most often, flour, cereals, spices remain unpacked for some time, which is enough for the larvae to move into other products. The longer they are not found, the more territory of the kitchen they capture.
Even hygienic procedures (wet cleaning, airing) are not able to stop this process.
Only storing food in a tight, sealed container can help isolate pests before they are detected.
The harm of the moth to bees
Caterpillars, which have recently emerged from eggs, eat honey with pollen from the cells of the honeycomb. The grown moth larvae harm the bee family much more than weaning part of the food. They switch to honeycomb feeding: they gnaw holes and eat everything that lies inside, including the brood. Each caterpillar is capable of damaging several dozen wax cells built by bees.
For reference!
The strong jaws of the moth larva can cope with very hard materials, and the enzymes produced by its body easily digest wax and propolis. It has been found that even thin polyethylene is degradable.
The invasion of gluttonous pests interferes with the normal life of the bee family. In especially advanced cases, wax moth larvae destroy the swarm if it has been weakened, or force it to leave the affected hive. Beekeepers try to prevent the spread of fireflies in the apiary.
Why is a mole dangerous?
First of all, the harm from food moths is expressed in spoiled products and a decrease in their quality. Groats eaten by larvae are not suitable for consumption. It is almost impossible to remove all pests from it, and the only way is simply to send the product to the trash. Flour can be sieved by removing cocoons and larvae, but this takes time and labor. Problems arise with other damaged products as well.
In addition, do not think that the reproduction of moths in an apartment can only lead to spoilage of food. Even this circumstance causes significant harm to the economy, but there is also a real threat to human health. The rapid vital activity of the food moth leads to the appearance of a huge number of eggs, feces, particles of the chitinous cover of the larvae.In such conditions, one should be wary of such complications: intoxication of the body when using spoiled foods for food, unpredictable allergic reactions of various types, disturbances in the immune system. You should not discount the psychological impact, incl. spoiled mood.
Effective remedies for moths
Pest Control Principles
The sooner you can find food moths, the easier it is to deal with it. In order not to start the process, containers and bags with food should be periodically checked for insects. Effective measures to control moths should be taken at all stages of its development. It is necessary to destroy not only butterflies, but also to completely get rid of larvae, pupae and eggs.
The life cycle of a food moth does not depend on seasonality, and active reproduction of an insect can occur at any time of the year. If at least one butterfly is found, it is necessary to conduct a complete inventory of products where moth infestation is possible. It is very important to find the source of the introduction of the pest and assess the extent of its spread in the kitchen. In the case when single individuals are found in the cereal, you can try to preserve the product. To do this, the cereals must be warmed up in the oven at a temperature of 55-65 ºС or placed in a freezer with a temperature below 0 ºС. Such impacts should last at least 1.5-2 hours.
It is important to take decisive measures in a timely manner to destroy food moths. For this, various methods are used: the use of insecticides and other chemicals, the installation of traps, the use of folk methods, and the implementation of preventive measures.
In order to reduce the risk of food pests, certain rules must be observed: checking products upon purchase, excluding the purchase of products with an unjustifiably low price, of questionable quality and expired shelf life, storing products for no more than 6-7 days, and for longer storage, use a refrigerator or sealed containers, the use of substances and plants that repel insects.
Prevention measures
Preventive actions:
- They carry out soil cultivation in the spring, cover the soil near the currants so that the butterfly cannot fly out.
- Do not plant bushes close to each other.
- You can plant mint near the currant, the smell will scare away the moth.
- Light traps are being set up.
- During the formation of berries, the bushes are examined, when a pest is found, the sections are cut off along with the caterpillars and removed from the territory.
Do not allow the growth of weeds, periodically loosen the soil during the season.
The use of chemicals
The most radical methods of dealing with food moths are associated with the use of chemicals. They must be used carefully, wearing a respirator, and strictly in accordance with the instructions. Insecticides, which contain ingredients that can kill pests, have gained widespread popularity. Most often they are available in aerosol form for ease of use.
How to remove a mole in an apartment - chemical and folk remedies
The following insecticides can be distinguished:
- The Raptor is sprayed on a specific area and has a shelf life of at least a year.
- The composition of Armol is intended for the instant destruction of butterflies and larvae. The action lasts at least 6 months.
- Combat Super Spray is a versatile formulation capable of fighting all types of moths.
- The Antimol remedy has a prolonged effect.
Another type of chemical is designed to repel insects and prevent egg laying. These drugs are called repellents and are usually herbal in nature. They are produced in the form of tablets, plates, briquettes. The most famous representative of this trend is naphthalene. Among modern repellents stand out: Desmol (tablets), Zitol, Phytocid (cassettes), Moleboi (plates).
In addition to the listed funds, the so-called sections from food moths are often used.They are designed to prevent the appearance of insects. The ingredients in these sections provide the scent of lavender, chamomile, tangerines. The substances contained in them block the process of reproduction of butterflies. The duration of the drug is 5-7 months.
First of all, the harm from food moths is expressed in spoiled products and a decrease in their quality.
Infection history
In 2002, large consignments of planting material were brought to Germany from the East, namely from China, India, Japan and Korea. This became the starting point for the mass reproduction of dangerous insects in Europe. This problem began to grow on a large scale and after a very short time, in just a couple of years, it began to bother all European countries and turned into a real environmental problem.
In preparation for the Olympic Games, with the same planting material, the harmful butterfly was brought to Russia from Europe and other countries. The boxwood brought from Italy was struck by insect larvae, and in the shortest possible time the invasion of butterflies became the most important problem of the Krasnodar Territory.
Using traps
Radical, chemical-based techniques are not suitable for all people, causing allergic reactions. To control pests, you can use a completely safe method - a food moth trap. In them, the following principle is laid: the exuding of an aroma that attracts an insect is provided. However, the surface with the aromatic substance has a very sticky layer to which the moth simply sticks and perishes. Similar adhesive tapes have been used for a long time to control flies.
One of the most effective remedies is the Aeroxon moth trap. The glue in it remains sticky for a long time, which allows you to get rid of adults.
Food moths are troublesome and can affect human health, especially if you are prone to allergic reactions. The fight against these insects must be carried out in a decisive manner. Preventive measures will reduce the risk of pests in the kitchen.
Gooseberry
Gooseberry moth butterfly is a noxious and dangerous pest of gooseberries and currants. Insects spend winter in the ground in a state of pupae. With the arrival of warm days, moth butterflies appear from them, which lay eggs in flower buds. The hatched moth caterpillars feed on the pulp and seeds of the resulting fruits. Having thus destroyed the first ovary, the caterpillars crawl through a hole gnawed from the side onto a nearby growing berry. After 5-6 days, by a similar method, the caterpillars move to the next berry, entangling the bunch with a thin cobweb.
