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HELP! there are bugs in the hamster food! ....and the bird food!

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Author Topic: HELP! there are bugs in the hamster food! ....and the bird food!  (Read 8705 times)
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wishforabird
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« on: May 02, 2012, 08:25:52 pm »

i bought hamster food and did NOT freeze it, and now I have little beetle-looking ant-sized bugs everywhere in it. I just opened it for the first time tonight and saw something crawl across a pumpkin seed inside.  I FREAKED out because I had just cleaned the hamster cages and added this food! i had to re-clean the cages and dump all the bedding and wash all the toys.  I took everything off the shelf where the food was and of course they were all over it.  I sprayed them with the vinegar and water and they seemed to die, but everywhere I looked there were more :(  I have never had anything like this happen to me before and I am very upset.  I have the creeps like you would not believe and a crick in my lower back from scrubbing and moving furniture.  I did not see any in Julian's cage tray and it is getting very late but I will continue to dismantle and search for more.  (Why does this happen right before bed????) i took pics and I will put them on here when i can get on my comp (this is my neighbor's -God bless her) hubby is on mine.  i found some in the dog's bed (he takes his food in there and eats it morsel by morsel so they were attracted to the food) and his toys and the kids' art paper supply and the humidifier and and and....

OK!!! HELP!!! anyone who has dealt with this what do I do and how do I prevent them in the future??? if I freeze them will they die?  what do I do with all the food?? if I freze it is it ok or what? omg heeeeeeeeeeeeeeelllllllllllllp     
« Last Edit: May 04, 2012, 01:38:16 pm by wishforabird » Report Spam   Logged

-Wishy


-Julian Robert; MY SOMEDAY Conure, born April 5, 2010 :)
            came home: June 29, 2010
-*Stellaluna 12/15/08-11/1/10; sky-blue budgie
            (the bird that started it all)*
-Victor Augustus; 2008- Aug 12, 2011; rest in peace, good sir.
* Colbie; 2010 * Easter Daffodil;  born spring 2011; * Nerhi; born spring 2011;

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« Reply #1 on: May 02, 2012, 08:58:16 pm »

I don't know if freezing them would help but i would be concerned about the excrement from the beetles on the food.  i've seen them before and i always throw it out or return it.  that's not healthy :(
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« Reply #2 on: May 02, 2012, 10:31:09 pm »

here...
« Last Edit: May 02, 2012, 10:32:58 pm by wishforabird » Report Spam   Logged

-Wishy


-Julian Robert; MY SOMEDAY Conure, born April 5, 2010 :)
            came home: June 29, 2010
-*Stellaluna 12/15/08-11/1/10; sky-blue budgie
            (the bird that started it all)*
-Victor Augustus; 2008- Aug 12, 2011; rest in peace, good sir.
* Colbie; 2010 * Easter Daffodil;  born spring 2011; * Nerhi; born spring 2011;
wishforabird
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« Reply #3 on: May 02, 2012, 10:59:43 pm »

did some reasearch.
 found out what I am dealing with.  Looks like I will be doing a lot of cleaning (again) tomorrow. 

Sawtoothed Grain Beetle
Oryzaephilus surinamensis (Linnaeus); Family: Silvanidae


Sawtoothed grain beetle (adult). In the enlargement, note the tooth-like projections along the edge of the thorax
(the part of the body between head and wings).
Photo from Clemson University, USDA Cooperative Extension Slide Series, Bugwood.org

Injury
The sawtoothed grain beetle is one of the most common insects infesting grain products in the home. An
infestation may begin at the time of manufacture or processing, in warehouses of food distributors in transit, on
the grocers' shelves, or in the home. Most food processors and handlers make every effort to avoid insect
infestations, but occasionally the efforts fail. Both the adults and the larvae feed on foods of vegetable origin,
especially grain and grain products such as flour, pasta products, cereals, dried dog foods, nuts, candies, dried
fruits, yeast, tobacco, and dried meats.

Description
Adults are small, about 1/10 inch long, slender, very flat, brown beetles. The thorax of the body has six
sawthooth-like projections on each side, hence the name sawtoothed grain beetle. Because of the flattened
shape, these beetles are able to work their way into packages of food that are apparently tightly sealed. The
larvae are whitish, elongated grubs with brown heads. When full grown the larvae are 1/8 inch in length.
For information on other small beetles found in stored grain and flour products, see the Insect
Diagnostic Lab Factsheet “Beetles in Flour, Grains, and Other Stored Foods.”

Life History
Adult beetles generally live for six to ten months (some may live longer). The females lay eggs loosely among
foodstuffs. The eggs hatch in three to five days and the larvae crawl about feeding on pieces of the host food.
After a few weeks the larvae build delicate cocoons, often joining together pieces of food. Pupation takes place
in about a week and then the adults emerge.

Management
Management measures for sawtoothed grain beetles are the same as for other stored grain pests. Bringing the
infestation quickly under control can help prevent losses of quantities of foods stored on kitchen and pantry
shelves.
1. Carefully examine all susceptible foods that may have been exposed to infested material. Insects may even
be found in paper-wrapped products that have not yet been opened in the home. All infested packages
should be destroyed. There is no satisfactory way of separating the insects from the flour or meal.
2. The contents from open packages that appear to be uninfested should be transferred to glass jars or clear
plastic containers with tight-fitting lids. This precaution is necessary because of the possibility that eggs or
larvae of the beetles, concealed in the product when the examination was made, may continue to develop
later and lead to a new infestation if not contained. The glass aids in the periodic examination of the food
without having to open the container.
3. Remove all food containers and utensils from the infested areas and clean thoroughly, first with a vacuum
cleaner, and then with soap and water. Special attention should be paid to cracks and corners where bits of
flour, meal or spices may have accumulated.
4. In most cases a thorough clean-up will control these insects. We generally do not recommend the use of
pesticides if they can be avoided, especially in food storage and preparation areas.
5. Continue to observe the area for several months after treatment. If beetles reappear, the clean-up may have
been inadequate, or a newly infested package may have been brought into the kitchen.
Long-term storage of meal and flour products often leads to infestation and therefore, such products should be
purchased in quantities suitable for early use unless adequate containers are employed.

Prepared 1974 by Carolyn Klass & Prof. Edgar M. Raffensperger, Dept. of Entomology, Cornell University
Updated 2012
IDL INSECT DIAGNOSTIC LABORATORY
Cornell University, Dept. of Entomology, 2144 Comstock Hall, Ithaca NY 14853-2601

http://www.entomology.cornell.edu/cals/entomology/extension/idl/idlfactsheetlist.cfm
« Last Edit: May 02, 2012, 11:04:37 pm by wishforabird » Report Spam   Logged

-Wishy


-Julian Robert; MY SOMEDAY Conure, born April 5, 2010 :)
            came home: June 29, 2010
-*Stellaluna 12/15/08-11/1/10; sky-blue budgie
            (the bird that started it all)*
-Victor Augustus; 2008- Aug 12, 2011; rest in peace, good sir.
* Colbie; 2010 * Easter Daffodil;  born spring 2011; * Nerhi; born spring 2011;
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« Reply #4 on: May 02, 2012, 11:03:41 pm »

all this from a (very nice!) bag of hamster food from the pet store. 

i bought it a week or so ago since I was running low... who knew i brought home such a trojan horse.  slaph

i opened this bag (heavy plastic - with scissors! ) and saw crawling around inside.  if I had brought it home and frozen it right then, would it have made a difference?  should I put it in another conatiner immediately?  I have gotten food for all the critters for YEARS and never had this problem.  i am upset, frutrated, irritated, and tired. 

now I will go read or watch something so I can get some sleep tonight.   sleepy

any and all help you can give would be greatly appreciated.  thumb

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-Julian Robert; MY SOMEDAY Conure, born April 5, 2010 :)
            came home: June 29, 2010
-*Stellaluna 12/15/08-11/1/10; sky-blue budgie
            (the bird that started it all)*
-Victor Augustus; 2008- Aug 12, 2011; rest in peace, good sir.
* Colbie; 2010 * Easter Daffodil;  born spring 2011; * Nerhi; born spring 2011;
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« Reply #5 on: May 03, 2012, 03:06:49 am »

This is common but its a pain. They do NOT go away easily, you may have to get everyone out and bomb the house. Totally clean all cages before bringing them back in. They come in pellet bags too sometimes and chances are you have had them prior and not noticed because you did not see them in the food bag. But now because you did see them you will notice them all freaking over. If you did catch it fast a total house cleaning may be enough. Good luck, we had them from a bag of bird food and they are not fun.

Freezing with kill the ones in the bag, freeze ALL animal food as soon as you get home with it, at least over night.

Small animal bedding can have them too..
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« Reply #6 on: May 03, 2012, 05:57:45 am »

Eeeek...I think I would be calling the manufacturer. There should be an 800# on the bag. I would think they would want to know, as yours will not be the only bag affected. They may offer compensation. Good luck
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« Reply #7 on: May 03, 2012, 07:05:22 am »

Holy beetle!  bugeye  I have seen the seed moths but never knew you could also get beetle things!!!  I do know that freezing works with the moths.  We have a small fridge that I keep the seed and stuff in....knocking on wood, I have had the moths in the regular pantry but not the fid food.  The moths are hard to get rid of and I always have the moth traps on hand....fyi if anyone ever needs them....best place is on Ebay to get them in like a pack of 4, otherwise they are like 7.99 each!
Hope everything works out!!!!!!!
I would take it back to the store and call the manufacturer....you should at least get some good coupons from the manf......and maybe new food or $ back from the store.
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« Reply #8 on: May 03, 2012, 10:38:58 am »

I too would take it back to the store as well as call the manufacturer.  I have never seen those, frankly i could have done without seeing them now .  dmblaf  I know I will be freezing Dasher's food from now on just like I do with the fids.  GROSS!
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« Reply #9 on: May 03, 2012, 03:53:34 pm »

I have actually seen them before, I remembered last night.. once my frined gave me some mac and cheese made for the microwave, and these were crawling in it.. makes sense they are grain beetles... I have the creeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeps.. I have been cleaning since before 9 am and JUST sat down to rest my weary bod.  I found more stragglers but not in the concentration as before.  they did not invade the adjacent art cabinet, nor did they invade the food I keep under Julian's cage on the shelf.  i froze all if it just to be sure even though I have had it for months and would have seen them by now, I am too freaked to take a chance.  I keep finding them on the one shelf I originally found them on even though I took it out (it is one of those "stack-a-shelf" things-particle board) and scrubbed it over and over! they must bein the crevices, so I vaccumed them and TAPED OVER THEM ALL.  I know a little drastic but I cannot have them in my house! DIE YOU LITTLE BASTARDS!  :pipen:

pok I also conducted some experiments on the little buggers that had the nerve to crawl out from between the seams of the shelf after I broke a sweat scrubbing it.. I sprayed the first one with vinegar+water which usually drops ants in 30 seconds.. and put an overturned medicine cup on it to keep it contained: NOTHING.   ok ,bug #2.. I used the Pet Focus.. it worked, but I had to spray it more than once ... and it took a lot.. try #3. AVCLEAN..DEAD! poof! in about 30 seconds!! WOO!! I sprayed the baseboards and shelf all over with it.  I also took Julian's cage apart to see if they had gone into feast on the crumbs in the nooks and cranies in there... nothing, big WHEW!  the shelf where I found them was right next to his cage so I was really worried.   sweaten

I took one of the bags that I double bagged out of the freezer and they were dead.  I left the bag out and they did not revive, so they are really dead.  (bugs are cold blooded and can appear dead when they are cold, I had to be sure.)  this one bag of soynuts only appeared to have them on the outside of the packaging when I bagged it, I figured I would freeze first and ask questions later.  anything with bugs IN it went out with the trash this morning.  i have to figure out how to fit everything in my teeny fridge now, i cannot leave anything out.  this was actually rabbit/guinea pig food that this started in, it is nice with dried fruits and veggies and everything.  I get this food for the hammies because all the hamster food contains peanuts.  this is the first time I have ever had this problem, and I am still very upset.  when I have a minute I will contact the petstore and let them know.  I don't even care if I get a refund or whatever, I just want them to exterminate! I am very nervous about buying food now..  :deer:
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-Julian Robert; MY SOMEDAY Conure, born April 5, 2010 :)
            came home: June 29, 2010
-*Stellaluna 12/15/08-11/1/10; sky-blue budgie
            (the bird that started it all)*
-Victor Augustus; 2008- Aug 12, 2011; rest in peace, good sir.
* Colbie; 2010 * Easter Daffodil;  born spring 2011; * Nerhi; born spring 2011;
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« Reply #10 on: May 03, 2012, 04:14:38 pm »

Do you have a basement?  Meaning to put even a little fridge in?  Or maybe your Buffalo neighbor has a little room in the freezer?  Garage sales or CL you should be able to pick something cheap up?
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« Reply #11 on: May 03, 2012, 05:39:21 pm »

   bugeye  holy insect encroachment batman!

i am pretty blase` about bugs for the most part but i'd have had my raid barrier and my bucket of biokleen scrubbing everything too. wow!

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« Reply #12 on: May 04, 2012, 01:37:44 pm »

ok, *knocking on wood
I have not seen any invaders yet today, only saw 8 yesterday.  I froze everything to see what I could save.. there was NO sign of infestation on the budgie food, Julian's pellets, his "just veggies" from drs fostersmith, his "just soybeans" and the dried bananas.  there were a ton inside the birdiebuffet dried veggies that I bought in GA (dammit). some of those bags were RIGHT next to where I found the one with bugs and they were not infiltrated!  towel

 I removed them from the bags since they lay eggs on the outsides of the nearby bags (ew) and I am not chancing it.  I put them in plastic bags in the fridge temporarily until I can get to walmart to buy glass containers with rubber gaskets or plastic with rubber gaskets. 

so this is very good news.. unless they are in something I have not thought of....... that was it, WHEW.  I am not counting my grain beetles before they hatch... but I am cautiously optimistic! 

i contacted the manufacturer and the store.  I threw out the bag that night so I did not get the UPC # !  slaph  I hope they can continue w/o it but I doubt it :(  i just wanted it OUT OF MY HOUSE, ya know?
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-Wishy


-Julian Robert; MY SOMEDAY Conure, born April 5, 2010 :)
            came home: June 29, 2010
-*Stellaluna 12/15/08-11/1/10; sky-blue budgie
            (the bird that started it all)*
-Victor Augustus; 2008- Aug 12, 2011; rest in peace, good sir.
* Colbie; 2010 * Easter Daffodil;  born spring 2011; * Nerhi; born spring 2011;
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« Reply #13 on: May 05, 2012, 11:23:10 am »

Yuck. I would have thrown it out too. I have been buying the fids food in bulk and it all goes in the freezer. I hate creepy crawlies. Thats why I am not fond of Florida and being down south ( no offense meant) I just can't deal with the bugs. ESpecially the roaches.
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 “My brother and sister birds, you should praise your Creator and always love him: He gave you feathers for clothes, wings to fly and all other things that you need. It is God who made you noble among all creatures, making your home in thin, pure air. Without sowing or reaping, you receive God’s guidance and protection.”
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« Reply #14 on: May 06, 2012, 04:26:51 pm »

i got new food today, from a different store.. if they are infested I do not want to get anything from there for a WHILE til they got it under control.

i got a lot of food containers the are BPA free, I didn't want plastic for this reason but now they are makingit safer.  I will still put them in bags inside the containers.. to keep them fresh and isolated.

I put the bag in the FREEZER as SOOON as I got home.  thumb

no sightings today or yesterday.  if they laid eggs I will see them soon, if not then I got em all.   :glasses: i have a lot of reorganizing to do to find a place to put everything, I am glad I do not have to freeze it all continually, it gets very full in my tiny fridge/freezer very fast.  the containers I got are air AND watertight.. so there is NOTHING getting into them.  they were $$ but I only have to buy them once.  thumb

we have a little freezer downstars but we cannot "afford" the electricity (juice) to use it, our house is older and only a certain amount of electricity can come into/through the main (am I making sense?) and it is all spoken for.. no more room on the breaker box for another outlet.  so now I can go back to storing things where they were before, but BETTER.  this was an expensive and stressful lesson! (p..s I bought containers for my pasta too)
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-Wishy


-Julian Robert; MY SOMEDAY Conure, born April 5, 2010 :)
            came home: June 29, 2010
-*Stellaluna 12/15/08-11/1/10; sky-blue budgie
            (the bird that started it all)*
-Victor Augustus; 2008- Aug 12, 2011; rest in peace, good sir.
* Colbie; 2010 * Easter Daffodil;  born spring 2011; * Nerhi; born spring 2011;
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