Old Sparky

We have a recurring problem with pantry moths. It's lessened over the years as we've put most of our dry baking goods into tupperware, but they still seem to come and go. Once they get a toehold, it's hard to completely eradicate them. Once we do, we get several months of moth-free living and then they return.

A year or two ago, a friend of mine gave me something called "Old Sparky". It looks like a little tennis racket, with an electrified grid instead of lacing. There's a little red button on the handle and a couple of batteries inside. When you spot a moth, you just swing the racket at it. When it contacts the grid, you get instant zappage and no more moth.

It actually works pretty well. Of course, the only way to end an infestation is to get rid of the product they've taken up residence in. I've found, though, that being able to get the adult moths quickly makes a difference in the length of time they have to be dealt with. What's slightly disturbing is that I find that I really enjoy this. I've come to detest pantry moths over the years, and I feel a certain satisfaction when I see little sparks flying off of one of them as it's trapped in the grid. Once in a while, you get one the explodes with a loud snap that sounds like a cap gun. Bottom line, though, is that this is a good way to help get rid of the darned things without chemicals or any of that. And it's fun!

You've reminded me of this story from many moons ago in my life: Several college friends were sharing a house. One day, I exclaimed to my friend about a moth that had the exact markings of a pumpkin seed. He came blundering over, banging into the table on his way, and frightened the specimen into the air. Just at that moment, the oscillating fan turned and sucked the lightweight creature in.... A shower of little white and black bits spurted six feet out the other side.

At first, we were both non-plussed. He demurely apologized for destroying my "art" project.

And he spent the rest of the summer chasing other moths into the back of the fan so he could see it happen again. And again. And again.

Mike, years ago, I used to have occasional boxes of rice, pasta, or other grain infested with bugs. I do believe they are in the packages when we purchase them, as that is what I was told. Then when we bought a new refrigerator, I kept the old one and put all my pastas and grain products into it.. Since I have done that, I no longer have any infestations. I guess now, I eat them, in larvae form! The pasta that I use the quickest seems fine left in my pantry, the ones that take longer to use up, even dried beans go into my extra refer.

I nicknamed them "shelf life". I've had infestations from both moths and weevils. I finally declared war one morning when I mixed up some Carnation Instant Breakfast and got a bitter concoction. It turned out that weevil larvae had gnawed into the package and then eaten all of the milk powder and sugar, leaving the cocoa powder behind. They also crawled into the salt shaker and died, and I ended up sprinkling dead weevil larvae on my food.

The eggs come into the house in packages of starchy goods, usually flour or dried beans (Indian toor dal is particularly prone to contamination, which is why it's often sold coated with vegetable oil). Once a breeding colony establishes itself, about the only recourse is to throw out all of your bags of flour, dried beans, and pasta and to thoroughly wash the shelves. I now keep all my flour and beans in mason jars, so that if I bring in infected goods the damage is strictly confined. I haven't had a problem since doing this (but I did have to throw out a pound of masa harina that turned out to be infested).

-Paul W.

Mike, your method sounds fun, in a nasty sorta way (who am I to talk, though? I've grabbed and smashed those little buggers with my bare hands on countless occasions) but is unlikely to get rid of the problem since you're getting them after they've had the chance to breed, more than likely. Our pantry moth problem has been basically eliminated using the traps supplied by Gardener's Supply Company:

http://www.gardeners.com/Meal-Moth-Trap/IndoorPestControl_Cat,32-599,default,cp.html

They're basically fly paper with moth bait attached. Yes, the bait is a "chemical" but the pheremone in question is present in minute quantity and presents absolutely no health hazard to humans or pets. We just set up a trap in an unobtrusive corner of our kitchen and -- presto! -- no more moths, even in the dead of winter when earlier they would be at their worst. Now, if it were as easy to get rid of &%^&^*&D(*ing fruit flies in the summer...

Mark Lipton

Mike, your method sounds fun, in a nasty sorta way (who am I to talk, though? I've grabbed and smashed those little buggers with my bare hands on countless occasions) but is unlikely to get rid of the problem since you're getting them after they've had the chance to breed, more than likely. Our pantry moth problem has been basically eliminated using the traps supplied by Gardener's Supply Company:

http://www.gardeners.com/Meal-Moth-Trap/IndoorPestControl_Cat,32-599,default,cp.html

They're basically fly paper with moth bait attached. Yes, the bait is a "chemical" but the pheremone in question is present in minute quantity and presents absolutely no health hazard to humans or pets. We just set up a trap in an unobtrusive corner of our kitchen and -- presto! -- no more moths, even in the dead of winter when earlier they would be at their worst. Now, if it were as easy to get rid of &%^&^*&D(*ing fruit flies in the summer...

Mark Lipton

Didn't Jenise post a method she used and was successful with?

Mark -

I've seen those little traps and have considered buying them. At present, a combination of Old Sparky and a good going-through of the pantry seems to have solved the problem. (They had gotten into a bag of pumpkin seeds and an old bag of trail mix that I didn't realize we still had.) If they get out of hand, I'll probably go that route.

The electrocution thing really is fun, although I'm a bit disturbed by just how much fun it is.

[Jenise]

the only recourse is to throw out all of your bags of flour, dried beans, and pasta and to thoroughly wash the shelves. I now keep all my flour and beans in mason jars, so that if I bring in infected goods the damage is strictly confined. I haven't had a problem since doing this
-Paul W.

Ditto, ditto, ditto.

After reading Mike's message -- I went and had a look at the various versions sold via Amazon.com.

I ended up buying a ZapRacket which is the most expensive, it does not use batteries but it is rechargeable.

Of course the moths all went into hiding, but we found one in the bathroom and tried it out. It looked like fireworks going off, big bright sparks. We have moths that use "dogfight" style evasive techniques and it is quite hard to simply grab or smack them. They drop straight down, or accelerate sideways or something and we are only about 30% successful "by hand". So I am looking forward to "sparking" them next time we have a big outbreak.

It is true that often when they get bad, we discover a container of pasta or a bag of rice or a box of cereal which has been neglected and now is all buggy. This almost convinces me that the custom of throwing out all the old crackers etc. before Passover is probably a truly wise move.

Mark's traps also sound great. Probably the best plan is "no stone unturned." Those moths are awfully annoying!!

[Jenise]

Didn't Jenise post a method she used and was successful with?

No, never did. Haven't had a moth infestation since I've been an FLDGer. You're probably remembering my fruit fly problem.