Effective means of combating food moths and their larvae
The most interesting thing is that an insect can appear in any apartment, regardless of whether it is clean or not. They can get into the house along with contaminated products from the store or from the street in the warm season. The most interesting thing is that there are an order of magnitude more cases of infection from store products.
The adult is similar to a small butterfly (about 1.5 centimeters long), mostly dark gray or brown. An adult moth practically does not eat, and its larvae are able to eat everything that impedes their path. This is why they are harmful, spoiled foods should not be eaten.
The larvae feed on dry foods: cereals, dried fruits, nuts, cookies, cocoa. If you notice moths in the house, be prepared for new offspring. Adults are able to lay up to 180 larvae at a time.
Folk remedies for fighting moths and larvae
The first thing to do is to audit all products. Don't miss anything, moths can even be in pet food. Carefully inspect the food, for the presence of not only larvae. A sign of infection is also the presence of their cocoons, which look like cobwebs or mold. We send these products to the trash can. 
Untouched food is transferred to tin or glass containers. Or we send it to the refrigerator or freezer for quarantine. Next, we free all the shelves in the kitchen cabinet and prepare the solution.
For this you will need:
- hot water;
- laundry soap;
- vinegar.
Wash cabinet gently with hot soapy water. Then wipe everything with a damp cloth and wipe again, but now with diluted vinegar.
Don't miss hard-to-reach places and even loops. It is in such corners that the larvae most often hide.For prevention, you can vacuum the room, but the dust bag should be on the street immediately after cleaning. Containers that have contained contaminated food should be washed in hot water. If this is glassware, then do not be too lazy to sterilize it. Be sure to dry all containers.
Reviews of folk remedies
Valentina Vasilievna, 65 years old, Moscow“I have always been against chemicals in the house. Therefore, I use only folk remedies. My mother also taught me that moths are afraid of vinegar and lavender. I use only these products and I forgot about the mole for a long time. ”
Ineffective and dangerous folk methods of dealing with moths
The boric acid trap is very easy to prepare: mix one part boric acid with three parts flour. But the danger is that larvae that have eaten poison can transfer it to other foods. And this is very dangerous for a person.
Comprehensive moth eradication
Despite the fact that the adult does not touch the food, it is able to lay new larvae that will spoil the food again. Therefore, it is worth considering integrated methods for combating flying insects. For this, purchased products are suitable, which can be found in abundance in household chemical stores.The most popular are: aerosols, fumigators and anti-moth sections.
General instructions for use
- Be sure to sort and check all the food. Throw away spoiled food.
- Rinse and dry the food container thoroughly.
- Treat cabinet surfaces.
- Be careful when cleaning. The product should not get on food.
- Be sure to dispose of the adults using any of the above methods, or by hand.
- Remember that moths must be disposed of comprehensively.
Aerosols against moths
Aerosol Raptor "Moth Protection"
Common and inexpensive aerosol. The pluses include the fact that it kills moths at any stage of development, that is, butterflies and larvae. But if you believe the reviews, then its action is not always effective. Also, its pungent odor can be attributed to the disadvantages. Be careful when using and follow the instructions. Spray the aerosol at a distance of 20-30 centimeters from the object, then ventilate the room.
“When my husband and I moved into a new apartment, the moth haunted us, a good gift from previous neighbors. In the store, I bought the first thing that came across, and the name is always heard. But the haste was in vain. Not only did we almost get poisoned by this pungent smell, but also the moth did not leave us.
"Armol"
An aerosol that is not as advertised, and therefore its price is lower than that of the others. This product is sprayed for about 1 minute until the surface is completely moistened, then ventilate the room for half an hour. The product protects against moths for about six months. Armol is considered a more effective aerosol compared to other drugs. Its disadvantage is the pungent odor and special sensitivity to it in children.
"Clean house"
Standard aerosol, but very hard to find in stores. Very convenient to use thanks to its spray tube. But he is very venomous. So when spraying, it is recommended to use protective gauze and rubber gloves. The tool is quite effective and shows good reviews.
This remedy for food moth is similar to the drug "Armol". "Extra Meat" is simple and standard in use, it has a fairly small price, but it is not as common as aerosols from other manufacturers.
Fumigators for the destruction of moths
Such methods of struggle are for the patient, since their effect lasts three days, and not several hours, like aerosols. But their main advantage is that they are not so toxic.
The principle of operation is simple. A plate or a can of liquid is inserted into the fumigator, the device itself is plugged into an outlet. Installation in a locker is problematic, for this it is necessary to extend the extension cord.
Fumigator DiK
An ordinary fumigator, and very cheap. But as it turned out, it breaks quickly, so it will last no more than a week.
"Mosquitol"
This tool is sold as a kit, which includes a liquid and a fumigator. The price is above average, but the result will meet expectations. It kills both flying moths and caterpillars. The liquid is odorless, which is very important. Plus, this tool has a fairly large radius of destruction. Judging by the reviews of Moskitol, the tool is popular.
“Moth is a rather troublesome and confusing problem, so I bought something from the store that would require the least effort from me. I plugged the fumigator into the outlet, since everything was in the kit, and after three days I didn’t even notice how the insect disappeared.
Raid
A copy of the DiK fumigator, but it costs more because of the well-known brand.
Moth trap "Aeroxon"
A very popular trap that is slightly overpriced. It is considered absolutely harmless to humans. Comes with two strips. It is enough just to tear off the protective film and stick it in the habitat of the moth. This product is odorless and lasts about 6 months. The only precaution reported by the manufacturers, if the sticky layer gets on the skin, wash it off immediately.
Absolutely the same trap as the previous manufacturer, only an order of magnitude cheaper. The only drawback noticed is that the sticky layer dries quickly. And this is not very convenient if you glue strips for prevention.
Sections from the moth
- The range of one section is very small, so you have to buy several pieces for just one locker.
- With the help of sections, you can only get rid of butterflies. They are harmless to larvae.
Sections from the moth "Raptor"
Inexpensive remedy for moths. The advantage is that you can choose a record with or without a smell. But the validity period is very short, only 4 months.
“In summer, there is no peace in the country from insects, all the more it is very annoying to sort out products from moths. I needed a reliable option, but that would be without harm to children. The moth sections fit perfectly.”
"Mosquitall"
This manufacturer offers two types of sections. Some, simple paper, like the previous brand, the second in the form of small plastic containers with powder inside, which are attached to the wall of the cabinet.
Nowadays, food moth remedies are very common, both folk and purchased. You can choose any, depending on your preferences.
Prevention of the appearance of food moths in the kitchen
In the future, so that the incident with the appearance of moths does not happen again, put a clove of garlic or a bay leaf in dry foods. Lavender wrapped in gauze will also work. The scaring effect can be enhanced with essential oils. For example: mint, lavender, fir oil, tansy oil. The smell of these funds repels the larvae, and they are unlikely to settle in such places.
Also, always remember:
- When buying dry foods in the store, be careful. The packaging must not be broken and there must not be any insects inside.
- Store food in airtight containers.
- Use elementary prophylactic agents: folk or purchased.
- Keep the room clean.
- In the warm season, cover ventilation ducts and windows with gauze to prevent moths from entering from the street.