Even if they are not dangerous to health, it is advisable to
quickly eradicate food moths
to prevent them from invading cupboards.
How to find their nest and especially how to eliminate food moths?
Here are 5 effective tips.
How to find the nest of food moths?
Finding small larvae in food (cookies, flour, chocolate, cereals, dried fruits, rice, pasta, semolina, sugar, etc.) is a sign of an infestation of your pantry by food moths (or
moths ).
flour
).
Other noticeable signs include whitish filaments in food, like a spider's web.
These pests can take different forms, depending on the stage of development of the food moth: egg, larva, cocoon or small moth.
Read alsoDo butterflies remember their past as caterpillars?
Food moths can come into a kitchen while shopping, or simply enter through an open window.
How to find their nest?
Food moths prefer dark places such as cupboards, shelves or drawers.
Examine nooks, crevices, and look for small holes in food packaging, cocoons or webs on jar lids or cans.
Moths come out at night: if you see one flying, look to see where it goes.
How to eliminate food moths?
If you find food moths in a food package, it is best to throw it away.
Empty the contents of your cupboard or drawer, throw in the trash the opened packages where the moths could have laid their eggs.
Examine the other packaging carefully.
In addition to insecticide products, how to fight against food moths?
Read alsoHow to identify the most common insects in the house?
Tip 1: clean the cupboard with white vinegar
White vinegar is an essential ally for the home.
Economical, this 100% natural product can disinfect, degrease or shine everything.
Mix in a spray bottle half water and white vinegar and spray the affected pantry, cupboard or drawer to thoroughly clean it.
White vinegar is an excellent repellent.
Read alsoThese 14 mosquito repellent plants will save you this summer
Tip 2: set a pheromone trap
Pheromone pads trap adult male moths in the form of butterflies, thus blocking reproduction and egg-laying.
These pest traps have a long-lasting effect (up to eight weeks) and limit the proliferation of moths.
They are often combined with treatment with food moth trichogramma over two months: harmless mini-wasps for humans that feed on moth eggs and disappear when they have nothing left to eat.
For more efficiency, clean your closet well and vacuum every corner to avoid leaving larvae or cocoons.
Be careful, however, to close the windows of the kitchen when you use these traps, in order to avoid attracting other males into your interior.
Tip 3: use essential oils
Moths do not like strong odors.
A few drops of essential oil in the corner of your cupboards can chase them away.
You can also spray a little water with essential oil on the doors and bottoms of cupboards to soak them in the smell.
Among the essential oils recommended: the essential oil of laurel, eucalyptus, cinnamon, lemongrass, cedar and peppermint are the most indicated.
Read alsoThese essential oils to adopt to relieve mosquito bites
Tip 4: use natural condiments and herbs
Still with the idea that moths flee too strong odors, if you don't have essential oil at home, you can:
Place a few cloves of garlic in your pantry.
Make a small bouquet garni to place inside cupboards with bay leaves, thyme or cloves.
Lay small sachets of lavender in the dark corners of the kitchen.
Put salt or nutmeg in a dish near moth nests.
These are very practical natural repellents.
Tip 5: Steam clean the cupboard
If you have a steam cleaner, consider using it to wash your entire closet (including the crevices) to make sure you've gotten rid of moths.
The pressure and high heat will overcome tears and eggs, which are difficult to spot with the naked eye.
To be on the safe side, we advise you to check your dry foods regularly and, if you buy in bulk, to store foodstuffs in airtight boxes or glass jars.
As moths are not cold-resistant, you can also store them in the fridge or freezer for 48 hours before eating them.
But regularly cleaning your cupboards with white vinegar and essential oils remains the best preventive measure against food moths.