Keeping Worms out of Flour and Oatmeal

RE: Keeping Worms out of Flour and Oatmeal Post by lillama (1) | (07/25/2008) Contact The bugs we are talking about here are called Indian Meal Worms, and they turn into small moths. Mealy worms are something different, a type of beetle. I found that it is important to find the source of the infestation, and in many cases, it is a bag of BIRDSEED or a similar product for pets. Sometimes they are found in spice jars, even red pepper jars, too. I am attaching a link to a page all about Indian Meal Worms and how to get rid of them. If you keep finding them in your house, you haven`t found all the infested products in your home yet, so search every dry product, all grains, cereals, powdered milk, raisins, spices, and baking powders, too. The cobwebs at the top of the container are a sure sign that the product must go: http://ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/2000/2089.html Good luck! Report Spam or Abuse RE: Keeping Worms out of Flour and Oatmeal Post By nancy welsh (Guest Post) (06/02/2008) I don't think I have mealy worms but what I do have is somethng that turns into a tiny gray moth. I opened a new bag of flour and found these flying in the bag. The bag was shut and in a plastic bag. What is this? There is obviously a larvae but does it turn into what would look like an ant with legs and antenna? Am I dealing with two different kind of bugs? Please help , its driving me crazy. Report Spam or Abuse RE: Keeping Worms out of Flour and Oatmeal Post By (Guest Post) (04/29/2008) Finally a solution to this pesty problem, but where do they come from? Today I once again threw out cake mix, cereals, crackers, pasta's. I washed down my cabinets with vinegar water and will now get the bay leaves. Suppose you could lay them in the cabinet and have the same affect? Just glad somebody has found something that works. Report Spam or Abuse RE: Keeping Worms out of Flour and Oatmeal Post By Sylvia (Guest Post) (01/15/2008) Question: are these worms harmful when ingested? I just fed my kids oatmeal this morning and I took some to work with me and found moon shaped wormy like creatures with some stripes on it. Is that the worm everyone is talking about? If so, please RESPOND ASAP! Report Spam or Abuse RE: Keeping Worms out of Flour and Oatmeal Post By care (Guest Post) (11/27/2007) Everyone keeps saying how to keep the worms out how the heck do they get there in the first place and I don't want to be eating unhatched bugs either. I mean how does the first bug or egg get in there? Report Spam or Abuse RE: Keeping Worms out of Flour and Oatmeal Post By aprilconnett (Guest Post) (09/26/2007) Put stick of Wrigley' spearmint gum in the container. The mint smell keeps the bugs out but the gum will not flavor your flour or oatmeal, etc. Report Spam or Abuse RE: Keeping Worms out of Flour and Oatmeal Post By christine (Guest Post) (09/23/2007) I found them on hand cream this week, they were trying to get under the cover of the cream (it was a flavored cream). I also found them inching along on the ceiling looking food. YUCK hate them! Where do they come from? Report Spam or Abuse mealy worms? Post By sandra (Guest Post) (08/04/2007) Is it possible to get mealy worms in your bed? Report Spam or Abuse Mealworms Post By Amy (Guest Post) (07/19/2007) If you have them in food how do you get rid of them? Report Spam or Abuse RE: Keeping Worms out of Flour and Oatmeal Post By Anita (Guest Post) (07/02/2007) I just found one of those pesky bugs in my oatmeal - AFTER I heated it up. Ruined my whole day. So now, gotta go home, throw out the rest of the oatmeal and keep it in the fridge from now on. Gross!! I hate bugs. Report Spam or Abuse RE: Keeping Worms out of Flour and Oatmeal Post By Shosh (Guest Post) (06/05/2007) Try keeping them in the fridge and freezer. Report Spam or Abuse RE: Keeping Worms out of Flour and Oatmeal Post By Kathy B (Guest Post) (12/21/2006) Thank you for the suggestions of freezing and wriggley's gum and Bay Leaves. I cleaned out my pantry cabinets this summer and thought I got rid of them. Then I find them in the original sealed plastic bags containing nuts and cake mixes boxes, etc... The best one was when I found them inside a tightly sealed cookie tin that I had stored chocolate chips in their original plastic bags. There were conwebs in the bags when I opened them. Even though they are harmsess, I thought this was gross. I definately will give these good suggestions a try, can't keep wasting money. Report Spam or Abuse RE: Keeping Worms out of Flour and Oatmeal Post By (Guest Post) (12/16/2006) i just ate some mealworms in my oatmeal, will that hurt me? Report Spam or Abuse RE: Keeping Worms out of Flour and Oatmeal Post By Jamie (Guest Post) (11/17/2006) I just found mealworms in my jasmine rice that has been stored in the freezer for weeks. How did that happen???? Report Spam or Abuse Mealy worms Post By Sharon Colman (Guest Post) (05/17/2006) Recently I had mealy worms in my pantry. I threw everything out and scrubbed and painted all the shelves. Now for some reason 1 moth will appear at least once a week. What can I do? smcqueenie (at) adelphia.net Report Spam or Abuse RE: Keeping Worms out of Flour and Oatmeal Post By Guest (Guest Post) (02/18/2006) Freezing the flour first before storing it works great. Then store it in plastic airtight containers like the Gladware 8-cup containers...they hold two pounds of flour/sugar perfectly, make it so easy to scoop from with measuring cups when the lid is off, and they stack well for storing all your dry goods. Report Spam or Abuse worms in flour Post By sieura (Guest Post) (12/10/2005) is thiere really worms in flour?? Report Spam or Abuse RE: Keeping Worms out of Flour and Oatmeal Post By tavist (Guest Post) (10/11/2005) So are the eggs in there already? Or are they attracted to the product and come find it? I must have had the perfect temperature this summer because I found them in everything. Yuck! Report Spam or Abuse RE: Worms in brownie mix Post By Tracey (Guest Post) (05/22/2005) Has anyone ever found worms in their brownies??? It seems to be a common occurence and it must be happening enroute or processing because I buy them and bake them immediately. I have emailed a popular company and am awaiting their response. Report Spam or Abuse RE: Keeping Worms out of Flour and Oatmeal Post by kimmcg (191) | (04/25/2005) Contact The worms only appear due to the glue used in the cardboard containers. Always transfer your dry ingredients into plastic containers or in the freezer and there will be no more peskie little creatures. Report Spam or Abuse RE: Keeping Worms out of Flour and Oatmeal Post By Darla (Guest Post) (02/25/2005) You can also unwrap a stick of Wrigley's Spearmint Gum, and place it in the bottom of your flour cannister. Weevils, mealybugs, etc., hate the smell, and taste, of spearmint! Report Spam or Abuse RE: Keeping Worms out of Flour & Oatmeal Post by Kentucky-lass (51) | (02/22/2005) Profile | Contact I have had that problem before too. I cleaned the entire kitchen and cabinets throughly, and threw away all the food. Now, I keep everything sealed tightly. I always put flour in the freezer before putting it in a container. However, I always think that if there are those immature bugs in there already, it is quite nauseating, isn't it? I think I might be ready now for Dr. Gott's no sugar, no flour, diet. ;-) Report Spam or Abuse RE: Keeping Worms out of Flour & Oatmeal Post By Ela (Guest Post) (02/22/2005) My Mom puts bay leaves in her flour to keep bugs out ... Report Spam or Abuse RE: Keeping Worms out of Flour & Oatmeal Post By Susan (Guest Post) (02/22/2005) I've had success with dried jalapeno peppers. One in the bottom and one on top, in whatever container is used. I also use this for grains, beans, pasta, etc. kept in containers at room temperature. Report Spam or Abuse RE: Keeping Worms out of Flour & Oatmeal Post By Margaret (Guest Post) (02/21/2005) I have not had mealy bugs in my flour, oatmeal, cornmeal, etc. for over 30 years. I keep these items in a Rubbermaid container in my pantry, but I ALWAYS make sure I have a few bay leaves in the containers. I replace the bay leaves periodically but like I said, I haven't had this problem for over 30 years. Report Spam or Abuse RE: Keeping Worms out of Flour & Oatmeal Post By DEEE (Guest Post) (02/21/2005) All of the great hints that have been sent really do work. One thing I would add, besides the bay leafs in your jars, is laying them, plus sticks of spearmint chewing gum loosely on your shelves. I don't know how it works, but it does work, another "Heloise" hint from long ago. Try it, you will be surprise to see them all dead on your shelves. Change it out occassionally! Report Spam or Abuse RE: Keeping Worms out of Flour & Oatmeal Post By Jeanne (Guest Post) (02/21/2005) Place the flour, oats, cornmeal, etc. in a Ziplock freezer bag and store these items in the freezer. Report Spam or Abuse RE: Keeping Worms out of Flour & Oatmeal Post by Harlean from Arkansas (349) | (02/21/2005) Profile | Contact I store mine in the freezer for about 3 days, then empty into gallon jars with screw on lids or plastic containers with sealing lids. If you seal them in containers without the freezer treatment first, you may still be bothered with mealy worms since there may be unhatched eggs in your product. I buy flour by 25 pounds at a time, and use this method. I store in a 5 gallon plastic bucket with a sealing lid and have only had a bug problem on a couple occasions. Once when I didn't freeze the flour first, and once when I didn't push my lid all that way to seal it. Harlean from Arkansas Report Spam or Abuse RE: Keeping Worms out of Flour & Oatmeal Post By (Guest Post) (02/21/2005) I keep my flour and meal in a drawer in my refrigerator. Of course, you could invest in plastic containers with sealing lids. Report Spam or Abuse RE: Keeping Worms out of Flour & Oatmeal Post by Anonymous (130) | (02/21/2005) Contact I just found this in a newsletter email from "1 Frugal Friend 2 Another" at http://www.cynroberts.com : Store oatmeal, flour, etc. in the freezer for 24 hours, and you will have no problems with those little "mealybugs". http://www.teapotcottage.com Report Spam or Abuse RE: Keeping Worms out of Flour & Oatmeal Post by Anonymous (130) | (02/21/2005) Contact I keep everything that I have room for in my fridge and freezer during the summer months. Pasta, flour, mixes, etc. Anything with a screw on lid, like wen1 said, above, is excellent if you do not have room or do not want to put things in your fridge or freezer. Bay leaves are also great in your food, too, like Jeanine said. http://www.teapotcottage.com Report Spam or Abuse RE: Keeping Worms out of Flour & Oatmeal Post By Jeanine (Guest Post) (02/20/2005) It also helps to store a whole Bay Leaf in your dry goods. Report Spam or Abuse RE: Keeping Worms out of Flour & Oatmeal Post by wen1 (1) | (02/20/2005) Contact I used to have the same problem...now I store my flour,sugar,ect....in large gallon size jars (like the ones pickles come in) this works really well as long as they have the screw on lids. You can probably find some jars at a thrift store or yard sale..I got mine at a yard sale for a quarter. Good luck to you..Wen Report Spam or Abuse