How to Eliminate Moths from Your Pantry: Remedies and Prevention


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The little butterflies that appear in the pantry are small flying insects which can become a real nightmare in the kitchen. Also known as food moth or pasta moth, its scientific name is Plodia interpunctella and refers to the banded grain motha small insect that is not uncommon to find in your pantry, thus contaminating products such as Flourrice, pasta, biscuits. In fact, these little butterflies feed mainly on dry foodsin particular cereals: when they settle inside the furniture they can rapidly multiplycreating a population that is not always easy to eradicate. The life cycle of these parasites lasts about 6 weeks during which They lay microscopic eggs (up to 400): once hatched, the larvae begin to to feed on food surrounding. Remember that they are not toxicso even if ingested by mistake they are not harmful to health: it is advisable to throw away the food for prevent further proliferation.

How do moths form in foods? They usually arrive through the open windowsattracted by the smell, settling in bags, boxes and other containers that are not hermetically sealed, or being present in packages purchased at the supermarketwhich are therefore already compromised. They love the humid environments and exposed to sources of heatas those in the kitchen usually are. Once you notice their appearance it is essential intervene immediately.

1. Deep cleaning

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The first step to getting rid of moths is a thorough cleaning the pantry. Moths and their larvae tend to hide in the cracks, corners and less accessible spaces, so it is essential to completely empty the cupboard and inspect every package of food. Proceed as follows:

  • Empty the pantry: Remove all foods from the shelves. Carefully inspect each package for adult insects or white larvae (they look like worms) and for any silky webs that may be present, all of which are signs of an infestation. If you find nothing in some opened foods, it is prudent to dispose of them anyway, as they may contain eggs that are invisible to the naked eye.
  • Thorough cleaning: Once the pantry is empty, use a vacuum cleaner to remove any crumbs, food debris, and any hidden eggs or larvae. Pay special attention to corners and crevices.
  • Washing: at this point, wash all surfaces using a solution of water and vinegar, since the latter is an effective natural disinfectant, which also discourages butterflies from returning with its smell. Before replacing the food, let it air dry or dry completely with a cloth.

2. Use of specific traps

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The butterfly traps They are an effective and simple method for reduce the number of adult insectswhich do not work for larvae and eggs. They are purchased in many supermarkets or home improvement stores and capture the males attracting them to an adhesive surface through the emission of pheromones. In this way, by avoiding mating, their proliferation is limited. They have the advantage of being easy to useare harmless to humans (they do not contain chemicals) and also serve to understand if the quantity of moths is under control or if it is necessary to intervene as described above. Usually they are changed once every 3-6 weeksbut obviously it depends on how many butterflies get trapped.

3. Use of essential oils and natural repellents

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More than a method to eliminate them, it is a way to don’t let them come back. A bit like the mosquitoeseven the butterflies can’t stand certain smells. Essential oils, such as that of lavender, eucalyptus or mintact as natural repellents for many insects, including these moths. How to use them? You can wet a cloth with a few drops of essential oil and place it in the pantry or near dry goods. The scent will keep pests away. Otherwise, make a spray in a vaporizer by mixing water and a few drops of essential oil. Spray the solution on the pantry shelves and in areas at risk of infestation, avoiding directly targeting food. As specified, they do not eliminate butterflies if they already exist, but without a doubt they limit their arrival.

How to prevent moths from forming?

Never has a saying been more versatile: prevention is always better than cure. Here are some precaution that should be adopted to reduce the possibility of moths contaminating food, with the consequent generation of waste and annoyance.

  • Hermetic preservation: one of the most effective measures is to store dry foods in airtight glass or plastic containers. For example, you can transfer opened pasta into other special jars, equipped with lids.
  • Regular food control: before purchasing dry foods such as flour, pasta and rice, carefully check the integrity of the packages, so as not to have any surprises at home.
  • Frequent cleaning of the pantry: keep the clean and tidy pantry(as well as the kitchen in general) regularly removing crumbs and food residues that could attract moths and to not forget any packages that have been opened for a long time at the bottom.



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