Kitchen cupboard mites

[Al Rogers]

My mum was clearing out her kitchen cupboards where she stores the likes of
flour, tea, coffee etc and she noticed it was swarming with little mites
about the size of a pin head perhaps smaller. She has found them in the
flour and on the tea bags etc. Needless to say she threw everything out,
bleached the cupboards, steam cleaned them but the mites have reappeared.
Someone mentioned a mite called "weebles" or something similar to that.

Anyone can help with info or how to get rid of them?

Thanks in advance

Al

[Lar]

In article <BPZQa.105056$%***@news-
lhr.blueyonder.co.uk>, ***@blueyonder.co.uk
says...
:) Someone mentioned a mite called "weebles" or something similar to that.
:)
Weevils are actually small beetles that get into food
products. She is probably seeing a type of pscosid, or
book lice. Thorough cleaning in the cupboards and make
sure there isn't a moisture problem should be the
answer.

[t***@adelphia.net]

Al, I believe what Lar is talking about is making sure there isn't a
moisture problem in the entire home. That may consist of making sure she has
plastic under her house and proper ventilation in the crawl space. Also she
may want to buy a can of store bought spray and spray around the inside of
the cabinets in the cracks and crevices before she cleans them. This is not
needed, however I just had a situation with my own mother and she was not
happy until I sprayed something in the cabinets that I told her would kill
any live insects. Also we threw out over $100.00 in dry foods where they had
become infested. I tried to tell her the spray wasn't needed but she just
simply felt more comfortable with it, so I did....

I wish you the best
Tim W

[Al Rogers]

Thanks for answering Tim

I think my mum has done everything she can regarding cleaning, steaming,
spraying cupboards etc. She feels a little more comfortable now after having
nightmares about the mites (don't laugh). I also read somewhere that they
reccomend storing flour and other dried foods in the refridgerator, I can
see her giving this a go too.

All help has been appreciated

Al

Post by t***@adelphia.net
Al, I believe what Lar is talking about is making sure there isn't a
moisture problem in the entire home. That may consist of making sure she has
plastic under her house and proper ventilation in the crawl space. Also she
may want to buy a can of store bought spray and spray around the inside of
the cabinets in the cracks and crevices before she cleans them. This is not
needed, however I just had a situation with my own mother and she was not
happy until I sprayed something in the cabinets that I told her would kill
any live insects. Also we threw out over $100.00 in dry foods where they had
become infested. I tried to tell her the spray wasn't needed but she just
simply felt more comfortable with it, so I did....
I wish you the best
Tim W
--
www.apcwv.com

[t***@adelphia.net]

You can do that if you want, but what it makes me think is she is becoming
almost a prisoner in her own home. My mom was putting everything she could
in those tupperware bowls and putting them in the fridge, it was a mess. You
had to go thru 10 bowls just to get to the milk. Maybe what you should do is
treat you mom to a professional treatment and be done with these things. We
can be bought at a fairly low price. Hell man I will come stop the
nightmares for less than a million....I had to make a nightmare comment. I
feel for your mom and seriously it may be something you would want to do,
contact a professional and have them come treat for her and you at your
expense, after all she is your mother. Just some food for thought there...

I wish you the best
Tim W

[Pete]

Hi,
One Thing that is especially important when dealing with a stored
product pest is finding all of the products infested. Most of my
customers only expect these pests in food that has already been opened.
But these pests can also be in products that are still sealed from the
grocery. I would look again at everything in your pantry again. Pay
particular attention to grains, pasta, baking mixes, and spices. I have
had weevils and grain beetles in dried flowers and other decorations as
well as some types of wall coverings. Inspect each product carefully
along the bottom and top. look for tiny holes, shake the packages and
see if any of the product inside sifts out. If something looks
suspicious go ahead and open it. In my larger commercial kitchens I
sometimes have to have dry goods put in the freezer overnight to retard
the growth of these pests. It really doesn't matter what type or how
you treat the house for these pests. If you continue to have a product
stored in the house that is infested you will not be rid of these pests.
I rarely if ever do any type of treatment for stored product pests. I
normally get the trash bags out and go through the dry goods until I am
certain that all infested products are gone. The problem usually solves
itself shortly there after.

Post by t***@adelphia.net
You can do that if you want, but what it makes me think is she is becoming
almost a prisoner in her own home. My mom was putting everything she could
in those tupperware bowls and putting them in the fridge, it was a mess. You
had to go thru 10 bowls just to get to the milk. Maybe what you should do is
treat you mom to a professional treatment and be done with these things. We
can be bought at a fairly low price. Hell man I will come stop the
nightmares for less than a million....I had to make a nightmare comment. I
feel for your mom and seriously it may be something you would want to do,
contact a professional and have them come treat for her and you at your
expense, after all she is your mother. Just some food for thought there...
I wish you the best
Tim W

[t***@adelphia.net]

One thing I did at my mothers house was to take all of her Jello boxes and
gently squeeze them and the ones that had "dust" or jello come out of them I
opened and there they were. I threw all of those away. The only reason I
treated for her was she simply would not rest until I did. I know my mother
and she would have not slept if I threw away some products and told her the
problem will correct itself. The gentleman that posted the original message
in this thread said his mother was about the same. As a PCO we know what
needs to be done to get rid of the problem, however we also need to be aware
of the wants and desires of the people we are working for. If a customer
feels it would make her more at ease if we sprayed something in this
situation then why not do it. Spray some pyrethrin and make them feel at
ease and leave knowing you have another happy customer.

I wish you all the best

[Al Rogers]

Thanks to all again for their posts

Al

Post by t***@adelphia.net
One thing I did at my mothers house was to take all of her Jello boxes and
gently squeeze them and the ones that had "dust" or jello come out of them I
opened and there they were. I threw all of those away. The only reason I
treated for her was she simply would not rest until I did. I know my mother
and she would have not slept if I threw away some products and told her the
problem will correct itself. The gentleman that posted the original message
in this thread said his mother was about the same. As a PCO we know what
needs to be done to get rid of the problem, however we also need to be aware
of the wants and desires of the people we are working for. If a customer
feels it would make her more at ease if we sprayed something in this
situation then why not do it. Spray some pyrethrin and make them feel at
ease and leave knowing you have another happy customer.
I wish you all the best
--
www.apcwv.com