Cereal pest control in the home

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Cereal Pest Control
in the Home
Guide 400 G-302
There are many kinds of insects that infest
cereals and other foodstuffs in the home. Usually an
infestation is recognized by the presence of insects,
holes in the packages, webbed food material, and
insect pellets.
Many cereal pests are general feeders, feeding on
nearly all types of dried vegetable and animal matter.
The common insects found in nut meats, candy,
macaroni, spaghetti, cheese, cereals, flour, cake
mixes, dried vegetables, dried fruits, peas, beans,
sugar, starch, certain drugs, dog food, bird seed,
baking powder, powdered milk, crackers, and cookies
arc Indian meal moths, saw-toothed grain beetles,
carpet beetles, granary weevils, flour beetles, bruchid
weevils, flat grain beetles, angoumois grain moths,
and confused flour beetles.
Examine all food products of the type
mentioned above every few months. Anything that
has been on the shelf, opened or closed, for over
three months should be checked closely. If you find
an infestation or even signs such as webbing or
pellets, follow these steps:
1. Dispose of obviously infested foods
immediately.
2. Thoroughly clean all storage areas. Food
particles from occasional spilling accumulates in
cracks and crevices. Insects can feed and reproduce
on such material. Then, as fresh products are brought
in, they may also become infested. A vacuum cleaner
does an excellent job of picking up dry particles from
corners and crevices. After vacuuming, wash the
shelves with a strong detergent.
3. Foods in open containers that are not
obviously infested should be treated by heating or
freezing to kill any eggs or insects that might be in
them. Heating in the oven at a temperature of 130
degrees F. for one-half hour or freezing at zero
degrees F. for four days will kill any pests in the
foods.
4. Store treated foods in clean glass or metal
containers with tight-fitting lids.
5. Apply an insecticide after vacuuming and
washing the area. All foods should be removed from
cupboards or pantry. This includes canned goods,
too. Your cleaning job can thus be more thorough
and there will be no chance of contaminating foods
with the insecticide. Insecticide on the lid of a can
could contaminate the contents as the can is opened.
Ready-to-use insecticide aerosol bombs, sprays,
or paints are available. Concentrates that can be
mixed with water and applied with a paint brush, flit
gun, or compressed air sprayer are also available.
Read the "active ingredients" statement on the label
to be sure you are getting a product that contains
Baygon, diazinon, DDVP, ronnel, malathion,
methoxychlor or naled. Most "crawling insect"
preparations have one of these insecticides. Lightly
spray or paint the shelves including cracks and
crevices. Let the insecticide dry; then cover the
treated shelves with clean paper before replacing
foods.
Most cereal pests hitch-hike into homes in foods
that were contaminated during processing or as a
result of small breaks in the package. Before
purchasing, check packages for breaks or signs of
insect activity. Be on the alert when you open new
packages. If you find an infestation, return it to the
store immediately. Purchase food in quantities that
you can use in a short period of time.
If you do make large purchases of some
commodities such as beans, corn meal, or similar
staples, they can be sealed in large cans with dry ice.
The dry ice will produce carbon dioxide which will
asphyxiate any insects that may be on the product.
The carbon dioxide will not harm the food. For a five
gallon cantainer it takes about one pound of dry ice.
The container should be sealed with masking tape
immediately after filling so that no carbon dioxide
escapes. Once the seal is broken, the contents are no
longer protected.
PRECAUTIONS
Store pesticides out of reach of children and
pets and away from foods, medicines, and cosmetics.
Always keep them in their original containers. When
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color, or national origin. New Mexico State University and the U.S. Department of Agriculture cooperating.