Content

• Steps
• Part 1 of 3: How to recognize flour mites
• Part 2 of 3: How to remove parasites
• Part 3 of 3: How to Prevent Meal Mites

Flour mite is a tiny pest that infests dry foods such as cereals, pancake flour, dried vegetables, fruits, and cheese. They can settle in even the cleanest kitchen if the conditions are right. A damp, dark and warm pantry is a great breeding ground, and mites get there with food or hiding in packages. This article will show you how to recognize a pest infestation, what to do with it, and how to avoid repeated attacks.

Steps

Part 1 of 3: How to recognize flour mites

1. 1 Examine the surface of the flour for mite dirt. Ticks leave behind off-white waste products that are so small that they can hardly be seen with the naked eye. Because of this, it can be very difficult to recognize ticks before the onset of a full-fledged invasion. Ticks have brownish legs, and together live, dead ticks and their waste products will look like a brown layer on the surface. This layer looks a bit like sand.
2. 2 Rub the suspicious flour with your fingers and check for a mint smell. If you crush a flour mite, it will emit a distinct mint smell. Food can also have a disgusting sweetish taste or smell even before you notice the presence of mites.
3. 3 Spread the flour on a flat surface and check after 15 minutes. Line up as much as possible and memorize the shape of the flour before leaving. If there are ticks in the flour, the surface will be uneven due to their movements by your return.
4. 4 Stick a piece of tape on the packaging or inside the cabinet to check for ticks. They will stick to the tape so you can see them with a magnifying glass. Also check the glue on the flour boxes on top or on the sides. The pincers might not have made their way in, but they might be on the tape and fall into the box as soon as you open it.
5. 5 Pay attention if your hands suddenly start to itch after working with flour or cereals. Although flour mites do not bite, some people may have an allergic reaction to them and their waste products. This phenomenon is also known as "grocer's itch."

Part 2 of 3: How to remove parasites

1. 1 Place affected foods in plastic trash bags and take them to a trash can away from your home. Flour mites feed on bacteria in flour in exactly the same way as mold, so their presence in foods suggests that they have already deteriorated. They also carry fungus from one food to another. Don't worry about swallowing some flour mites - they are harmless to most people.
   • In exceptional cases, a person may have an allergic reaction to eating flour containing mites. This reaction is called "tick-borne anaphylaxis" or "pancake syndrome". It manifests itself within minutes of eating contaminated food and can cause hives, shortness of breath, throat swelling, nausea, weakness, and / or fainting.
   • See your doctor right away if you develop any of these symptoms.
2. 2 Freeze any dry food that may be infested with meal mites. If you have food with no signs of infestation, or partially infested with mites, you can leave them for 7 days at temperatures down to -18 ° C. This will kill any mites, eggs or larvae.
   • Once all the mites are dead, try sieving dry food and removing any parts of the food that have been infected with mites and may contain debris.
3. 3 Remove and sterilize all jars and containers where food was stored. You need to empty the containers of any food debris to keep the mites from eating. Wash containers and lids in very hot water and make sure to dry completely before refilling them.
4. 4 Thoroughly clean the pantry or cabinet where the food was stored. Vacuum all shelves and walls, paying special attention to all crevices. If you don't have a vacuum cleaner, use a clean dry brush to clean all surfaces. Remove the dust bag from the vacuum cleaner and discard it immediately after cleaning.
   • Wipe down all surfaces, but avoid using chemical pesticides near food or storage areas.
   • Try cleaning with a vinegar solution (1 part vinegar to 2 parts water) or apply natural insect repellents or safe pesticides such as neem or orange oil (1 part oil to 10 parts water).
   • Use a hair dryer to dry the storage area. Flour mites love dampness and moisture.

Part 3 of 3: How to Prevent Meal Mites

1. 1 Keep your pantry dry and cool. It is difficult for ticks to thrive in dry habitats (up to 65%), and you are unlikely to see them again if your pantry is well ventilated. Pay attention to the location of the kettle, stove, oven or drying rack to ensure that they do not create moisture in the food storage cabinets.
   • Try blow drying cabinets on a cold setting.
2. 2 Store flour, cereals, grains, and other similar foods in clean, airtight containers. Your food will stay fresher longer, and the meal mites will definitely not be able to get to it.If, after cleaning, any mites remain, they simply cannot lay eggs in the food, and will soon die of hunger.
   • Although Zip Bags will last for a while, ticks can chew through them and get to your food. So it's best to use glass or plastic containers.
   • The life cycle of flour mites lasts about a month, so keep everything clean and tightly closed and any mites will die out soon.
   • Try not to mix old and new foods in containers. For example, use the old flour first, then thoroughly clean the container, remove the remaining flour on the bottom, and only then add new flour.
3. 3 Buy groceries in small packages. While it may cost a little more than buying a large package or buying in bulk, buying all of the food in small portions greatly reduces the chances of long-term storage of easily contaminated foods. If food is left in a humid environment for too long, it will become damp and bloom, which can lead to a new mite infestation.
   • Make sure you check all packages carefully before bringing any dry foods home. See if they are damp, damaged, or stored in a damp environment.
4. 4 Glue the bay leaf to the inside of a container or pantry where you store food. Flour mites, cockroaches, moths, rats, weevils and other pests do not tolerate the smell of bay leaves and therefore, if present, parasites will not touch your food. Place the leaves in food containers (the food will not smell or taste) or glue them to the lid of a container or inside a food drawer or pantry.
   • There is a lot of controversy over whether to use dry or fresh bay leaves. Many people have already proven that both those and others help, so buy a view that is convenient for you, and check the effectiveness of this method for yourself.
5. 5 Keep pet food and dry foods separate. Food storage rules for animals are not as strict as for other foods, and therefore they are more susceptible to pest attacks. Store them in airtight containers away from other foods.