2 ways to get rid of fruit moths in dried fruits

What does a fruit moth look like (photo)

Fruit moth: photo of the pest.

Features and description of the insect

Name: Fruit moth, subspecies of food moth Lat.:
Sitotroga cerealella

Class: Insects - Insecta Order: Homoptera - Homoptera Family: Electoptera - Gelechiidae.

The development of fruit moths consists of several developmental phases:

The insect is a gray, inconspicuous moth . The body size does not exceed 3 cm with open wings. The period of butterfly activity is evening and dark, but during the day you can also see solitary individuals.

The eggs of the pest are very small, it is almost impossible to notice them. During her short life (up to 2 weeks), one female lays about 100 eggs under favorable conditions available in a house or apartment.

The larvae look like ordinary small white caterpillars with a dark muzzle. After the larva has accumulated enough energy by eating food, it wraps itself in a cocoon and a few days later a moth hatches.

Life cycle of a moth.

Where does it come from?

Food moths can get into a person’s home in different ways. Pest larvae may already be in products purchased in stores, since storage conditions in warehouses do not always correspond to the norm. And this leads to the proliferation of the pest. In the absence of dried fruits, moths appear in cereals, flour, tea and nuts. The only things that don't appeal to her are spices and coffee.

Pupae of the pest may also initially be found in fruits that have been used for drying. And since they are subsequently stored in a dry, dark place, such conditions are ideal for further reproduction.

Moths can also fly in through an open window at night. As a result, she finds a favorable place and lays eggs.

Pest detection

It is very easy to detect pests in dried fruits. At the bottom of the container in which dried fruits are located, you can most likely find small worms, strange light pellets or traces of cocoons.

However, food moths can breed in other places. It can often be found on walls or cabinets near the feeding area.

Many people often confuse ordinary clothing moths with food moths, although both parasites harm humans: some spoil clothes, others spoil food. There are several varieties of food pests. Most species of food moths have a characteristic light yellow pattern on the wings and are smaller in size.

Moth caterpillars in dried fruits.

How to avoid insects

To protect dried fruits from numerous problems such as mold or insects, it is recommended to resort to disinfection and sealed packaging.

The main thing in this matter is to work for prevention, because preventing the pest from reaching your supplies is much easier than later removing it and throwing away the products.

Citrus peels are an excellent moth repellent.

Many insects, including fruit moths, cannot tolerate strong odors, which repel food. Placing bay leaves and lavender leaves nearby will help preserve dried fruits. Furniture can be wiped with fir oil or vinegar, all of which repel pests.

It would also be a good idea to place dried lemon, tangerine or other citrus peels in the same place. The main thing is to keep them separately, and not inside bags or jars of apples, so that the latter are not saturated with other people's aromas.

I also use my grandmother’s method to store it in fabric bags. It is not right?

I can’t say whether it’s right or wrong, but from the height of my experience I will say that I switched to plastic jars with multi-colored lids. And my soul is pleased that everything is in order and the dried fruits are in order.

Doesn't the common food moth eat dried fruits?

He eats, and how. They are tasty and healthy for her. In fact, fruit moths are one of the food varieties.

How to store dried apples at home

To store the finished dried product, you need to choose a suitable container so that the sweet and healthy product does not lose its positive qualities. There are several options, each of which has its own advantages, which will help you choose the most optimal one.

In bags

Dried fruits made from apple raw materials are stored well and, most importantly, for a long time in dense fabric bags. The priority feature of this material is its ability to easily pass air and trap sun rays that are harmful to the product.

This container is very easy to make at home, and it can also be used many times. Drying in bags is not affected by mold fungi and is not saturated with dampness.

In boxes

Another affordable option for storing dried apples is cardboard boxes. Just to ensure air circulation, small holes will have to be made in them. Using containers that are too large will be irrational, because if dried fruits become infested with pests or even one slice becomes infected with mold, the entire harvest will very quickly deteriorate. Dried apples should be stored in portions.

In packages

Paper bags are another good example of a container in which dry goods can be stored all winter without problems. This material will also provide excellent air circulation and limit exposure to sunlight. You can make these little bags yourself from unbleached paper sheets.

In banks

Dried fruits can also be kept in glass jars under nylon lids. It is best to store this container in the cellar. The only drawback of this method will be the lack of air circulation and, as a result, the development of putrefactive processes. To avoid an unpleasant situation inside the jar, it is recommended to place a sheet of paper along the walls and drill holes in the lid.

Dried fruit protection

It is necessary to throw away those food supplies that were in the potential infection zone and those in which traces of vital activity were clearly found. Such products contain excrement and remains of the insect cocoon, which can cause complications if they enter the human body.

Proper storage is the best protection.

How to save dried fruits from moths

Clean storage is the key to quality.

Butterflies and food moth larvae love a warm and humid environment (approximately +25°C and 50% humidity). If your house is hot and damp, then removing the fires will become a very labor-intensive task. It is best to thoroughly ventilate all rooms before processing, dry corners, throw away damp cereals, bread, etc.

With any storage method: indoors at home, in the attic or on the balcony, often check the condition and quality of dried apples in order to prevent them from spoiling in time.

By following simple storage and prevention rules, you can keep your harvest intact.

How to store dried fruits

Improper storage of dried fruits is the most common mistake that contributes to the appearance of the parasite.

Before the season, the storage area must be wiped with a disinfectant and washed thoroughly so as not to leave dirt and foreign odors that attract pests.

To avoid spoilage of your favorite products, you need to follow simple rules:

1. The use of paper or cellophane bags is undesirable, as the pest can easily gnaw through their walls. In addition, condensation collects in plastic bags, which contributes to the formation of mold.
2. The best storage containers are glass jars with tight-fitting lids. After the fruit has been poured inside the jar, cover it on top with paper, which will absorb excess moisture.
3. A shaded shelf or wall cabinet is best for storage. Such places should be well ventilated and ventilated, and the temperature should be about 10 degrees.
4. Excess moisture in the closet or on the shelf will help to remove table salt poured into a plate and placed next to it.
5. From time to time it is necessary to check dried fruits in the storage containers themselves. If they feel a little sticky to the touch, then you need to pour them out, dry them a little and place them back in a dry container, replacing the old paper.

Destruction of moths

Methods for killing moths

The moth is not distinguished by its quick reaction or strong flight abilities. It's easy to slam him. But there is no guarantee that this is the only or last butterfly in the room, so you should play it safe and use effective moth repellents in the apartment and in the kitchen in particular.

• Sticky tapes are hung around the kitchen, anti-moth tablets and special traps are used in cabinets.
• Among the folk remedies, herbs such as lavender, peppermint, chamomile, and geranium will help repel the pest. These plants repel moths with their scent. Orange peels and garlic are also excellent repellents.
• Ventilating the kitchen for 20 minutes every evening during cold periods reduces the activity of moths and creates unfavorable living conditions for them.
• In case of severe infestation of the premises, aerosols and moth sprays are used. Initially, they carry out cleaning to destroy the larvae, wipe down the cabinets, and hide the food in airtight containers. Disinsection is carried out. Use any insecticidal agent - Raptor, Raid, Antimol, Clean House, Dichlorvos. After 20 minutes, ventilate, carry out wet cleaning by adding baking soda and laundry soap to the water. An alkaline environment completely neutralizes the effect of the insecticide.

Not only does dry fruit attract moths into the house, any food supplies can become contaminated if the insect gains access to them. Preventative measures are extremely important to prevent infection.

Fighting methods

There are a large number of ways to combat fruit moths.

Do not rush to use chemicals. We must remember that there is a large amount of food in the kitchen, and the contact of reagents on them can cause more harm than from an insect, especially for a product such as dichlorvos.

If, nevertheless, a decision was made to smoke out the pest with chemicals, then it is necessary to protect yourself as much as possible with personal protective equipment, remove all food supplies away, and after the end of the “war”, thoroughly wash all the places where the poison could get in.

So it is better to use simple, time-tested and many years of experience, methods of struggle that will not harm your health.

Heat treatment

Temperature treatment.

If the situation with dried fruits is not hopeless, that is, only adults and no traces of larvae were noticed, then you can try to save the dried apples using heat treatment.

The insect does not like high temperatures. First of all, you need to sort through all the apple slices, throw away any damaged ones, and place the untouched apples on a baking sheet in 1 layer. Then preheat the oven to 70 degrees and place a baking sheet in it for 20-30 minutes.

Traces of vital activity in drying.

The parasite larvae also cannot tolerate low temperatures, which are fatal to them. If it is not possible to warm up the infected fruit, then you can use an alternative method. In winter, you can put the fruits on the balcony; it is advisable that the temperature be from -10 degrees.

If the winter is warm, then you can put the apples on the shelf of the refrigerator or freezer, keeping them there for up to 24 hours. After any type of processing, dried fruits must be placed in dry containers that can be hermetically sealed.

Using improvised means

There are not always any chemical means to combat moths at home, and not everyone wants to use them in the kitchen where food is stored. In such cases, improvised means and folk methods will help in the fight against the pest:

1. Prepare traps from flour and boric acid, which are mixed in proportions of 1 to 3, then poured into a small container and placed on the kitchen shelf.
2. You can lubricate the walls of furniture where moths have infested with lavender oil.
3. Experience shows that an effective means of control is the smell of tobacco, which repels parasites well.
4. Orange peel, which after cleaning is laid out inside the furniture, has a good effect.
5. Ammonia helps destroy eggs and at the same time disinfect the place where they live.

Read more about safe food protection, which will be a very pleasant preventive measure, here.

Video

We invite you to watch a video about a proven method of storing dried apples:

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Prevention

Moths can enter human habitation in a variety of ways. Favorable conditions contribute to the fact that even several adult individuals can breed into entire colonies in the shortest possible time. There is no 100% way to protect your home from moths.

But if you carry out simple prevention and follow the advice, you can reduce this risk to a minimum:

1. It is advisable to have a fine mesh on windows and hoods, through which pests will not be able to enter the room.
2. You should buy products from trusted stores in order to exclude the possibility of introducing insects from outside. Also, before purchasing, you must visually check the packaging for leaks.
3. It is better to store food supplies not in packages, but pour them into glass, tightly closed containers.
4. From time to time it is necessary to wipe the shelves with water and vinegar or essential oils.
5. The food storage area must be dry and ventilated.
6. It is better to store nuts or dried fruits in glass containers that are hermetically sealed.
7. And in general, it is better to keep the kitchen and dry fruit storage areas clean. This will prevent the appearance of not only moths, but also other insect pests.

Shelf life of dried apples at home

Dried apple slices can be stored for a long time - they can remain edible for several years. However, such a long life for apples can only be ensured if you followed all the instructions for preparing the fruit, and also chose the right place to store the fruit and chose a suitable container. Failure to follow the rules for preparing and storing drying products significantly reduces its shelf life.

We recommend that you learn about the effect of dried pears on the human body.

Thus, we can say with confidence that preparing dried apples is a simple process, especially since you can independently decide on the method of drying the fruit. Storing dried fruits will also not cause difficulties, and how many months drying will remain suitable for consumption depends only on how responsibly you take the choice of containers and places for storing them.