Bugs!!?

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#1
Today I discovered little crawlys that resemble mealworms. Im finding them under the lids and under the bottoms of the tubs I keep kibble in, but not in the food itself. The surrounding area is clean, because its my kitchen, so I havent a clue why they are drawn to the dog food. I thought you only got bugs in your house if it was dirty!? :eek:


Anyway to get rid of them!!

And is the food still edible?
 

bubbatd

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#2
Are you meaning the moth larva ??? I was infested with those for a while !! Always under a lid in tight areas ....GAG !!!
 

mwood322

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#3
Look up Pantry pests, though it sounds like grain moths. They like dog food, especially dog foods with lots of grain. They also show up in pasta, flour, and oatmeal so I'd check any food that isn't refridgerated.

They often come in with bird seed or dog food. If you see small tan moths flying around your pet store, make sure you freeze the food after it comes home or you're just bringing more home.

--Mia
 

good_dog

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#4
If they're what I think they are, the food is still edible... but I would bag and freeze it to kill any little crawlers that remain, as well as cleaning all your storage and handling areas with a bleach water solution.

The adult moths lay eggs on the grain while in the field. Usually, the cleaning, dehusking, and cooking your dog food goes through in being formed into kibble removes or kills all the eggs, but not always. You only get hatchouts in food that has been mishandled somehow... often in shipping/warehousing.

If you don't already do so, make sure YOUR handling is right. Store your food in airtight containers (open) or in the original packaging (closed). Keep food in a cool, dry place as humididty and warmth encourage the little monsters to hatch. Keep only about a month's supply of food on hand at a time. If you have to buy larger quantities, freeze all but the amount that will be fed immediately. Keep any other seed or grain-based product away from it (it's common for the larvae to begin in something like wild bird seed, which isn't cleaned or cooked well--if at all.)

Even though they won't hurt the dogs, you definitely want to get rid of them. They eat a lot of food, reproduce rapidly, and spread through everything.

Good luck with your infestation!

Beth
 
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#5
Okay, the situation is under control lol.

They weren't actually living in the doggy kibble. They were in my hamster food, which contains alot of differnt seeds. I went to feed my hamster today and OMG! It was really gross. It was full of cob web like material and little worms.

Yuk, now I have to go by more food. My poor hamster is hungry. :( I have to go later today. :eek:
 

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