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PANTRY PEST:
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Mediterranean Flour Moth
The Mediterranean Flour Moth is somewhat larger than the Indian Meal Moth Development and damage is similar to the Indian meal moth, except the larvae live and feed in small silken tubes they spin. Although flour is the favorite food, grains, bran, breakfast foods and pollen in beehives are also attacked. The life cycle takes about 10 weeks. The webbing and matting of the larvae often cause the greatest amount of damage by this insect, whether it is contaminating foods in the home or clogging industrial machinery. The adult moth is a pale-gray color and from one-forth to one-half inch long, with a wingspread of slightly less than one inch. The wings are marked with two indistinct, black zigzag lines. The hind wings are a dirty white. This moth is easily recognized by its characteristic pose when resting. When at rest, the moth extends the forelegs which raises the head and gives the body a sloping appearance. None of the other house moths have this characteristic pose. The female moth lays from 116 to 678 small white eggs in accumulations of flour, meal, waste grain, nuts,chocolate,beans, dried fruits and other food sources. Commonly, the eggs are attached to the food. Within a few days (three days at eighty to ninety degrees F) the eggs hatch into small whitish or pinkish larvae, with a very hard and dark colored head and small black spots on the body, that immediately begin to spin silken tubes. The larvae remain within the tubes until fully mature, which takes approximately forty days. When fully grown, the larvae will leave the immediate area where they were feeding and wander about in search of a location to spin silken cocoons. Within the cocoons, they transform into reddish-brown pupae. After eight to twelve days the adult moths emerge. During very warm weather, the Mediterranean flour moth may complete its life cycle (egg to adult) in five to seven weeks. Recommended Treatmensts for Mediterrean MothsPropest Pheronet Pantry Pest Trap: A distinctive trap in that it not only is designed to capture the pantry moths, like the Indian Meal Moth,but also Cigarette Beetles.
Pre baited triangular trap with pheromones to attract :
Simply remove the release paper to expose the glue, fold
into triangle shape and it's ready to use(Pre-baited with pheromones).This
advanced technology is Pherogel . May be hung or secured to any surface with the 3/4'' double stick tape on the back of the trap. Trap Size: Trap Size: 4-3/4'' x 12" (Flat -unfolded) Active Life: 4-6 weeks Revenge Moth Pantry Pest Trap
Each trap comes with a pheromone packet, and a sticky interior area to trap the adults.
For large pantry moth infestations, we suggest using a a residual crack and crevice aerosol such as Alpine PT Aerosols
Alpine PT is a reduced risk insecticide, a residual aerosol ,with a crack and crevice tip , sprayed in the cracks and crevices, to kill the adult beetles and moths.
Prevention and Sanitation:
Controlling Temperature:When packages of food are found to be infested with moths or beetles, either low or high temperatures may be used to control the infestation. Insects are cold-blooded; their body temperatures closely follow that of their environment. The most favorable temperature for most pantry pest is about 80°F. Above 95°F or below 60°F, reproduction and survival is greatly reduced. When temperatures are lowered, insect activity decreases until all activity stops. The quicker the drop in temperature, the quicker the kill. Although insects will be killed, their bodies will remain in the food unless sieved out. An exposure of 2 to 3 days to temperatures of 5°F or lower kills the more susceptible stages (larvae and adults), but eggs require longer to kill (3 weeks). An alternative is to freeze the food for a week, remove it from the freezer for a few days, and then refreeze it for another week. |
Alpine PT Aerosol
Propest Pheronet Pantry Pest TrapsPropest Pheronet Pantry/Beetle Pest Trap Trap Size: 4-3/4'' x 12" (Flat -unfolded)
Safer(Surefire) Brand Pantry Pest Trap:Click on image to enlarge Packaging: One box contains 2 traps/ 2 lures
(Surefire) Brand Pantry Pest Traps: Revenge Pantry Pest Traps
Packaging: One box contains 2 traps/2 lures
Pantry Patrol Packaging: Each box contains 2 pitfall traps and 2 liquid pheromone lures
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