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Post by divtal on Oct 1, 2018 19:23:08 GMT
I have had a recent infestation of (what I think are) Indian Meal Moths, which I say because they look like what I see online. It began with seeing a couple of them - dead - and, has escalated to 3 nights of many flying around the kitchen at night. Late last night, I'm sure that there were more than 50. I don't like canned pesticides, but desperate people do desperate things, and I grabbed the raid. It doesn't take long for them to succumb, and I had to vacuum them up. This morning, I found them on my stove grid, and various other places. Apparently, they don't go after the clothes closet. Per online instructions, I just got rid of every bit of; meal (oatmeal/buckwheat), flour, pasta (even unopened), and even beans, because I'm not taking any chances. I'm washing down shelves/drawers, and blitzing the kitchen with distilled vinegar from spray bottles. Fortunately, I love the smell of vinegar. I found one small opening that I think may be their point of entry. That has been heavily sprayed with everything I can find that sprays. I don't know where to buy napalm. Has anyone had experience with these little beasts? Any suggestions? I fear tonight.       If it happens again, it'll have to be time to call an exterminator. |
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Post by wickedkittiesmom on Oct 1, 2018 19:34:48 GMT
I get all kinds of little moths, some are from the waxworm larvae that escape from my box turtle. Since I have cats, they have a great time catching the moths. I won't allow Raid aka Cancer spray in my house. I don't have oatmeal, flour or grains.
This was a lucky year for me, no fruit flies or ants in the house. I think I solved the ant problem by scattering a little dry cat food around the outside of my house and the ants have been busy taking bits back to their nests. No more ants in the house. I don't know why I didn't have fruit flies this year - I guess none of the fresh fruit I bought was infested with them.
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Post by divtal on Oct 1, 2018 21:39:52 GMT
WKM, you have made me feel better, by mentioning fruit flies. We do get them, and they used to drive me crazy. Compared to this, the fruit fly is now my "energetic little friend."  These aren't the cute little moths that you see, from time to time, like mini-butterflies that are "flitting" around a candle, bulb or TV screen. They swarm, then move to crawl around the walls and ceiling, when I turn on the overhead light. This is an infestation. And, given that it has increased over the last few nights, I have to conclude that there's a nest of a gazillion eggs somewhere. I hope that I've put in in the garbage, or blocked the entry into the house. I feel like Tippy Hedren, in The Birds.  I did get my "comeuppance," though, after using the Raid spray. The law of gravity being what it is, all that spray drifted down to the floor, and I slipped in it. I bruised my elbow, and have a shoulder twinge ... but, at least I didn't break anything. |
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Post by wickedkittiesmom on Oct 2, 2018 10:40:12 GMT
Have you just tried vacuuming the moths with a shop vac? Don't forget the poison you spray also gets into your lungs.
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Post by koskiewicz on Oct 2, 2018 15:47:08 GMT
I've never had those critters in my house. But my garage seems to attract numerous common house flies which I use a shop vac to suck them up with.
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Post by ZolotoyRetriever on Oct 2, 2018 15:49:43 GMT
Have you just tried vacuuming the moths with a shop vac? Don't forget the poison you spray also gets into your lungs.
I wish I had an answer for you, divtal. Sorry to hear about your slipping and falling. That sucks! I don't like the idea of using Raid in the kitchen - anywhere near food, that is. You might be well advised to just call an exterminator. They might have some sort of "non-toxic to humans" solution. Good luck. |
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Post by ZolotoyRetriever on Oct 2, 2018 15:53:09 GMT
I've never had those critters in my house. But my garage seems to attract numerous common house flies which I use a shop vac to suck them up with. |
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Post by divtal on Oct 2, 2018 16:37:19 GMT
I've never heard of a shop vac. Do you vacuum them as they're flying around? I do have a strong hose attachment on my regular vacuum.
However, the good news is I was moth-free last night. I'm not sure if it was blocking the suspected entry point, or getting rid of the suspect foods. I tend to think it was the entry point.
If they come back, I can try the vacuum method.
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Post by wickedkittiesmom on Oct 2, 2018 16:51:07 GMT
I've never heard of a shop vac. Do you vacuum them as they're flying around? I do have a strong hose attachment on my regular vacuum. However, the good news is I was moth-free last night. I'm not sure if it was blocking the suspected entry point, or getting rid of the suspect foods. I tend to think it was the entry point. If they come back, I can try the vacuum method. A shop vac is basically a wet/dry vac that people usually use in their workshops, basements etc. |
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Post by divtal on Oct 2, 2018 17:33:18 GMT
I'll look into it. With any luck, I won't face it again.
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Post by koskiewicz on Oct 5, 2018 17:50:10 GMT
Wal Mart sells a nice portable shop vac for about $40. I use mine in the garage and suck up those house fly critters while they are alive. The suction on the shop vac is such that the critters cannot resist if you get the suction wand in their general area.
And if I were you, don't use your house vac for flying insects. A shop vav is the way to go...!!!
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Post by divtal on Oct 5, 2018 19:38:10 GMT
Thanks, Kos. I did look up Shop Vac on Google. The do look to be handy, but I want to see if/how some models might vary in size. I live in an apartment, which isn't tiny, but I don't have a lot of room for what appeared to be substantial for storage space.
I'm sure that you're right about not using my regular vacuum. The hose nozzle is kind of small, and not very efficient for that task. Also, as I said, the swarm around when I just have the small light over the stove on. When I turn on the overhead light, so I can see where they are, the little devils fly to the walls and ceiling. The ceiling is to high for me to reach, as are some parts of the walls.
Update: After my day of tossing certain foods, blitzing with vinegar, and blocking what I think was an access, I was moth-free for two nights. Then they were back, 2 nights ago. But, it appeared that they were coming from the other side of the kitchen. I found another possible access, and blocked that. Last night was clear. I'll see what happens over the weekend.
Thanks, again.
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Post by ZolotoyRetriever on Oct 5, 2018 19:38:17 GMT
Wal Mart sells a nice portable shop vac for about $40. I use mine in the garage and suck up those house fly critters while they are alive. The suction on the shop vac is such that the critters cannot resist if you get the suction wand in their general area. And if I were you, don't use your house vac for flying insects. A shop vav is the way to go...!!!
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Post by wickedkittiesmom on Oct 5, 2018 22:14:19 GMT
Thanks, Kos. I did look up Shop Vac on Google. The do look to be handy, but I want to see if/how some models might vary in size. I live in an apartment, which isn't tiny, but I don't have a lot of room for what appeared to be substantial for storage space. I'm sure that you're right about not using my regular vacuum. The hose nozzle is kind of small, and not very efficient for that task. Also, as I said, the swarm around when I just have the small light over the stove on. When I turn on the overhead light, so I can see where they are, the little devils fly to the walls and ceiling. The ceiling is to high for me to reach, as are some parts of the walls. Update: After my day of tossing certain foods, blitzing with vinegar, and blocking what I think was an access, I was moth-free for two nights. Then they were back, 2 nights ago. But, it appeared that they were coming from the other side of the kitchen. I found another possible access, and blocked that. Last night was clear. I'll see what happens over the weekend. Thanks, again. You can order a one gallon shop vac from Amazon. I have a small one gallon shop vac, its light weight and does the job just fine. There are several price ranges but I would go with the cheapest, they work just as well as the more expensive models and if you have cats, they are great for vacuuming cat hair and litter dust. |
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Post by obnoxiouslyadorable on Oct 6, 2018 6:14:22 GMT
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