If you opened a package of flour and it was swarming with small parasites, it is probably wheat calenders; they are small insects that are reddish-brown in color and able to fly. Since they can lay a few eggs every day for months, the pest control process can take some time. Clean the kitchen completely and store the flour in airtight containers made of hard material. It will take some time to remove all the eggs, but by improving food storage practices you can stop them from proliferating.
Steps
Method 1 of 2: Clean and Organize the Pantry
Step 1. Identify the source where the grain calenders come from
Although they are able to fly, they typically stay close to their food source. If you've noticed small reddish-brown bugs in the flour, they may also be found in other food items in the pantry. you should also look for their presence near the pet food bowls, as they could be coming from there. Other foods to inspect are:
- Cereals and grains (oats, rice, quinoa, bran);
- Cracker;
- Spices and herbs;
- Dry pasta;
- Dried fruit;
- Chocolate, candy and dried fruit;
- Dried peas and beans.
Step 2. Throw away any contaminated food
Even if you are unable to see the eggs, you can locate adult parasites. Check the flour and the products in the pantry for calenders and throw anything infested in the trash; if you don't notice any insects, you can store and use flour or food.
You shouldn't eat any products that contain live calenders; if you have accidentally cooked something with contaminated flour, you can consume it as the parasites are dead
Step 3. Use the vacuum cleaner and wash the kitchen cabinets
Remove the food from the shelves and pass the vacuum cleaner equipped with the lance accessory to eliminate any crumbs and residual flour. Take a rag soaked in soapy water and wash all surfaces on which there may be food traces; if other rooms in the house are also infested with calenders, clean them with a vacuum cleaner.
- Immediately empty the appliance bag and throw it in the open bin, so that the insects do not remain in the kitchen garbage pail.
- If you clean the pantry and remove food sources, there is no need to use commercial insecticides against these pests or food moths.
Step 4. Scrub the wall unit shelves with white vinegar or eucalyptus oil
Once all surfaces are thoroughly cleaned, apply a liquid that the insects do not like. You can use a solution of water and vinegar in equal parts or use eucalyptus oil; just dilute it with a little water and spray it on the shelves.
To prevent calenders from re-infecting your kitchen, you can also use neem, tea tree, or pine needle oil
Step 5. Store all food in hard, airtight containers
Since these insects are able to pierce paper and cardboard boxes, you need to transfer the food to hard plastic jars or containers with airtight closures. If you bought dry mixes for baked goods (such as those for cakes or muffins), inspect them to make sure they are not contaminated and transfer them to safe containers. You can apply labels or use a color code to easily recognize the various products.
It is advisable to cut out any instructions for use from the cardboard boxes of the food and keep them in a binder to keep in the kitchen
Method 2 of 2: Preventing Infestations
Step 1. Purchase small amounts of flour
If you don't use it very often, consider buying only small doses at a time; if you leave it in the pantry for a long time, the calenders could be attracted to it and lay eggs there. The sooner you use the available supplies, the lower the chances of infestation.
Step 2. Freeze the flour
As soon as you bring it home, seal it in a plastic bag and keep it in the freezer for at least a week; by doing so, you kill all the eggs and adult insects already present. You can later transfer it to a hard, airtight container in the pantry or keep it in the freezer until you need it.
Step 3. Place a fresh bay leaf in the flour package
Take a few and place them in each bowl or bag of flour. Some people believe that laurel is able to prevent infestations of wheat calenders; you have to replace the leaves every few months or when you no longer perceive their scent.
You can find fresh ones in the fruit and vegetable section of the supermarket next to the other herbs
Step 4. Use a pheromone trap
You can buy them in small packages, they work by exploiting pheromones that attract calenders and food moths; they are covered with a sticky substance that catches parasites. Put some in the pantry and change them when they are full of bugs.
If you are overwhelmed by a severe infestation (for example, there are thousands of insects crawling on the floor and walls), you should call a specialist company for professional intervention
Step 5. Inspect the pantry regularly
You should do this every one to two months looking for parasites. This operation is very important because adult insects can live at least one year; also remember to carefully clean the points of the cabinets that are difficult to reach and in which the calenders can reproduce.
This is a good opportunity to wash the shelves again; keeping them clean prevents the return of insects
Advice
- Don't leave contaminated food in the kitchen garbage pail; take it to the outer bin to prevent insects from re-infecting the pantry.
- If you just bought flour and you find calenders inside, seal the package in an airtight container and take it back to the store you bought it from.
- If your pantry shelves are lined with protective paper, remove it before cleaning as insects can hide under the sheets.
