Pest warning

[Happinow]

Yesterday I went into my pantry to get some oatmeal to make for breakfast and found lots of little bugs, called psocids, on top of the oatmeal container cover. Now they were probably there for days or weeks before I even knew it. These little bugs look like little scraps of cardboard. In fact that's what I thought they were until I paid closer attention and saw them move. If you were to look in your panty, you may think that one of your cereal boxes or any other cardboard box has shed a bit, but look closer to make sure they aren't moving. They are grey in color. So, I further inspected every item in my pantry and they were in the bottom of every cardboard box and some had even gotten into unopened boxes of food. Take your cereal bags and pastas out of your boxes and inspect them for these bugs. Naturally, I took everything out and threw it in the garbage, except for cans and bottles of stuff. I Clorox wiped all the the pantry down and put the stuff back. I checked the pantry again last night to make sure the bugs were gone and they weren't. They are so tiny that they crawled into the cracks of the drawers. So I called Massey and they promptly came and put something down to kill them. So far, nothing is moving! I went and bought airtight containers for all boxed things in the pantry, cereals, cookies, crackers, cake mixes, etc. Go check your pantry for these little pests. It makes my skin crawl knowing I didn't see them a while ago. Good luck.

[NotGolfer]

We've had bugs in our pantry as well. They're a type of weevil that like gluten (which is in about everything including cardboard). We had "bugman" come out and were told the larvai live in flour etc and in the FL temps become the weevils. Put all of your items in sealed containers. When possible even keep them in the freezer or fridge.

[gomoho]

Had weevils once in my pantry in North Carolina and they are CREEPY!!!

[Madelaine Amee]

Several years ago one of my neighbors left for the summer and gave me an unopened package of pancake mix, I used it to make pancakes and noticed tiny dark pieces in the pancakes - weevils. The original packet was alive with weevils and they got into everything. Now everything in my kitchen and the refrigerator is sealed in plastic zip lock bags.

[marianne237]

Thanks for the warning.

[duffysmom]

Recently I noticed these little black specks on my tile floor and then I noticed that they moved when swept up. Called Massey and the guy asked me if I had any bird seed around and I didn't. He proceeded to open cabinet doors, look in my pantry and then went to the garage where he found a closed plastic bin with, you guessed it, bird seed. He threw it away and left. Said nothing more needed to be done. Haven't found one since. :yuck:

[Rango]

After opening a box/container of oatmeal, dry cereal etc., I put remainder in hard plastic containers. No problems (yet)

[Happinow]

Massey came and sprayed the pantry. 2 hours later I was able to vacuum any dead psocids and put my items back. Massey said I may find some dead ones in the next few days as they will eat the product he put down and die, and I did. I keep watch every day for more pests.....one or two here and there. I expect soon they will all be gone. The pantry doors are white so they are easy to spot. I expect if you have darker wood cabinets, these pests maybe next to impossible to spot. So you could have them and not even know it. It's best to dump your cereals and other pantry items in a large bowl to check for pests before eating. Be sure to check the bottom of the box! That's where they hide. Hope this was helpful.

[graciegirl]

I THINK what I just ate were some little bits of raisins, but now I am not sure.


This forum is so helpful.barf

[NotGolfer]

The weevils come to us where they're packaged....or at least their eggs. Then they appear once they're in the pantry....at least that's what we were told. Before we lived here, I don't remember ever having the issue as we do here. Strange but it's hot/humid FL after-all.

[jblum315]

Hey, free protein!!