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Flour mites are tiny pests that infest dry goods such as cereals [1]
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Expert Source
Wilson Christner
Pest Management Professional
Expert Interview. 31 May 2023.
, pancake mix, dried vegetable materials, cheese, corn and dried fruits. They can thrive in the cleanest of kitchens if the conditions are right. A humid, dark, and warm pantry is the perfect breeding ground for flour mites, which usually get into your kitchen either already in the foodstuffs or hiding on the packaging. This article will teach you how to identify an infestation, how to treat it, and how to prevent future infestations.
Steps
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Look for brown "mite dust" on the surface of your food. [2] X Research source Flour mites have off-white bodies and are so small they are nearly invisible to the naked eye [3] X Expert Source Wilson Christner
Pest Management Professional Expert Interview. 31 May 2023. . Because of this, it is very difficult to detect mites until you have a full-blown infestation. The mites have brownish legs, and the collection of living and dead mites and their waste will appear as a brown coating or tinge. [4] X Research source It may look a bit like sand. -
Rub the mite dust or some questionable flour between your fingers and check for a minty smell. When flour mites are crushed they give off a distinct minty odor. [5] X Research source [6] X Expert Source Wilson Christner
Pest Management Professional Expert Interview. 31 May 2023. The food may also develop a sickly sweet smell or taste, even before you detect the mites. [7] X Research sourceAdvertisement -
Spread some flour on a flat surface and inspect it after 15 minutes. Make the flour as smooth and level as you can before walking away. If the flour is infested with mites, the surface will be uneven due to the movement of the mites. [8] X Research source
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Stick a piece of scotch tape on packages or on the pantry shelves and inspect for mites. The mites will stick to the tape and you may be able to see them with a magnifying glass. [9] X Research source Also check the glue on box tops, the edges of sealed flour canisters. They might not be able to get inside, but they may be on the lip and get in once you open the container.
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Notice if you are inexplicably itchy after handling flour or other grains. Though flour mites don't bite, some people may have an allergic reaction to the allergens on the mites or their waste products. [10] X Research source This is also known as "grocer's itch."
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Put severely infested foods in plastic garbage bags and put them in the trash bins outside your house. The flour mites feed on the germ in flour as well as mold, and their presence could indicate the food has gone bad. They can also pass the mold spores to other foods if they travel to another container. [11] X Research source Don't worry if you think you may have consumed some of the mites--they are harmless to most people.
- In rare cases, people may have an allergic reaction to consuming flour contaminated by lice, called oral mite anaphylaxis, or pancake syndrome. A reaction usually occurs within minutes after eating the contaminated food and can cause hives, difficulty breathing, swelling of the throat, nausea, weakness, and/or collapse.
- Contact a doctor immediately if you experience any of these symptoms.
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Freeze any dried goods that may be infested to kill the flour mites. If you have foodstuffs that show no sign of infestation or are not completely overrun with mites, storing them at temperatures below 0°F (-18°C) for four to seven days will kill any stray mites, eggs, or larva. [12] X Research source
- Once the mites are dead, try sifting the dry goods or removing portions you know were infested and may contain dead mites. [13] X Research source
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Remove and sanitize any bins, jars, or containers where contaminated foodstuffs were stored. You want to remove every last speck of food from these containers, depriving any surviving mites of their food. Wash the containers and lids in very hot water and make sure they are completely dry before you refill them. [14] X Research source
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Thoroughly clean the pantry or cabinet where the infested goods were stored. Vacuum the shelves and walls, paying special attention to crevices. If you don't have a vacuum, try using a clean, dry brush to sweep out the area. [15] X Research source stoke.gov.uk/food Make sure you throw the vacuum bag in the trash bin outside immediately after cleaning.
- Wipe down all the surfaces, but avoid using chemical pesticides anywhere near your food or food storage.
- Try cleaning with a mixture of water and vinegar (1 part vinegar to 2 parts water) or natural insect repellents and safe pesticides like neem oil or orange oil (1 part oil to 10 parts water). [16] X Research source
- Use a hairdryer to dry the storage area. Flour mites like damp, humid places. [17] X Research source stoke.gov.uk/food
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Keep food storage areas dry and cool. Flour mites cannot thrive in a low-humidity environment (under 65%), and you should never see an infestation if your storage area is well-ventilated. Pay attention to the placement of kettles, cookers, dryers, and stoves and make sure they are not causing moist air to collect in food storage areas.
- Try keeping a fan in your pantry to cool the air and dry out any moisture.
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Store flour , grains, cereal, and other susceptible foods in clean, airtight containers. This will keep your food fresh and dry and keep mites out. If there are any mites that survived your cleaning process, depriving them of their food source will cause them to starve and prevent them from laying eggs in your grains.
- Resealable plastic bags can work short-term, but mites can chew holes through them and get to your food [18]
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Expert Source
Wilson Christner
Pest Management Professional Expert Interview. 31 May 2023. . Try glass or thick plastic containers instead. - The lifecycle of flour mites is about one month, so if you can keep everything clean and sealed up tight, any remaining mites should die off.
- Try to avoid combining old and new foods in the containers. Wait until you've used up all the flour in the bin, give the bin a thorough cleaning and remove any old flour stuck to the bottom, and then refill with the new flour. [19] X Research source
- Resealable plastic bags can work short-term, but mites can chew holes through them and get to your food [18]
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Expert Source
Wilson Christner
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Buy dry goods in small portions. Though it may be a little more expensive than buying in large, bulk quantities, but if you buy smaller portions, you are less likely to have susceptible foodstuffs sitting around for long periods of time. If they sit in a humid environment for too long, they may become damp and start to mold and start another infestation of mites. [20] X Research source
- Make sure you inspect all packaging before bringing dry goods home. Make sure they are not damp or damaged and that they were not stored on a damp shelf. [21] X Research source
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Tape bay leaves in your containers or in the cupboard where you store food. Flour mites, cockroaches, moths, rats, weevils, and many other pests are said to hate the smell of bay leaves and will avoid your dry goods if they are present. You can put the leaves right into the container (the taste won't leech into your food) or tape them to the lid of the container or inside the pantry or cupboard.
- There are conflicting reports about whether to use dry or fresh bay leaves. People have reported success with both, so buy whatever is easiest for you and see how it works. [22] X Research source
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Store pet food away from your other dry goods. The regulations for pet foods aren't as strict as ours, and they may be more likely to harbor pests. However extruded pet foods ( those that are dry and formed into shapes) are processed at high temperatures and have low water activity. You will be very unlucky to have a problem with these. Store these in airtight containers away from your own foodstuffs. However do separate as indicated - your pets dont want your human food contamination contamination.
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Expert Q&A
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QuestionHow can I tell if flour mites have invaded my pantry?Wilson Christner is a Pest Management Professional and Co-Owner of Whitmore Pest & Wildlife Control. With over 14 years of experience, Wilson offers comprehensive services to address immediate pest issues, while also providing valuable recommendations and solutions for habitat improvements and exclusion techniques, particularly for wildlife and rodent-related problems. Wilson holds a wood-destroying organism, outdoor vertebrate, and residential/commercial pest control Qualified Supervisor certification from the Colorado Department of Agriculture. Wilson is also a red card certified wildland firefighter and was honored as the firefighter of the year in 2017.A stale, musty smell around your food containers is a red flag that flour mites may be settling in. You'll probably notice it most around any infested packages. Keep an eye out for tiny holes or other damage to the packaging too — that's a dead giveaway the mites are making themselves at home.
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QuestionHow do I permanently get rid of dust mites?Erik Bakirov is a Cleaning Specialist at Room413 Cleaning in Los Angeles, California. Erik specializes in deep, move-in, and move-out cleaning services. Room413 matches homeowners with reliable and trustworthy cleaning services. They also promote environmentally friendly cleaning products.One of the most effective ways to get rid of dust mites is by applying steam. A steamer is best suited, however, an industrial professional-grade steamer should be used to be effective instead of the regular steamer that is used for clothes.
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Expert Interview
Thanks for reading our article! If you’d like to learn more about pest control, check out our in-depth interview with Wilson Christner .
References
- ↑ Wilson Christner. Pest Management Professional. Expert Interview. 31 May 2023.
- ↑ http://ento.psu.edu/extension/factsheets/flour-and-grain-mites
- ↑ Wilson Christner. Pest Management Professional. Expert Interview. 31 May 2023.
- ↑ http://homeguides.sfgate.com/pantry-mites-83735.html
- ↑ http://ento.psu.edu/extension/factsheets/flour-and-grain-mites
- ↑ Wilson Christner. Pest Management Professional. Expert Interview. 31 May 2023.
- ↑ http://www.the-piedpiper.co.uk/th7g.htm
- ↑ http://www.the-piedpiper.co.uk/th7g.htm
- ↑ http://citybugs.tamu.edu/factsheets/biting-stinging/others/ent-3009/
- ↑ https://www.merckmanuals.com/professional/injuries-poisoning/bites-and-stings/mite-bites
- ↑ http://ento.psu.edu/extension/factsheets/flour-and-grain-mites
- ↑ https://www.weekand.com/home-garden/article/pantry-mites-18050961.php
- ↑ https://www.weekand.com/home-garden/article/pantry-mites-18050961.php
- ↑ http://ento.psu.edu/extension/factsheets/flour-and-grain-mites
- ↑ stoke.gov.uk/food
- ↑ http://www.discoverneem.com/neem-oil.html
- ↑ stoke.gov.uk/food
- ↑ Wilson Christner. Pest Management Professional. Expert Interview. 31 May 2023.
- ↑ http://ento.psu.edu/extension/factsheets/flour-and-grain-mites
- ↑ http://homeguides.sfgate.com/pantry-mites-83735.html
- ↑ http://homeguides.sfgate.com/pantry-mites-83735.html
- ↑ http://www.houstonpress.com/restaurants/banishing-bugs-with-bay-leaves-6411592
About This Article
Article Summary
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To get rid of flour mites and prevent them from coming back, throw away any infested food in your outside trash bin so they can’t continue to spread, and remove and sanitize any bins, jars, or containers where the contaminated food was stored. Vacuum the pantry or cabinet thoroughly to remove any remaining mites, their eggs, and their droppings. To keep the mites from coming back, keep your food storage areas dry and cool, and store dry goods in clean, airtight containers. For tips on detecting flour mites, read on!
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Reader Success Stories
- "I come across these after ferreting around in my cupboard for flour to make bread. For days, kept noticing white bits on black work surfaces and just cleaned them away, until today when I saw them crawling. I've read through this info today, so I am going to give my kitchen a good clean tomorrow AM." ..." more
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"I come across these after ferreting around in my cupboard for flour to make bread. For days, kept noticing white bits on black work surfaces and just cleaned them away, until today when I saw them crawling. I've read through this info today, so I am going to give my kitchen a good clean tomorrow AM."
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"I had no idea there was more than one type of bug, that could infest and how they could spread. I have always kept my flour and sugar products in airtight containers, and couldn't figure how they were getting into new things. Wish grocery stores would do this, too."
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"Thanks so much for your information! I had no idea that there was such a thing as a flour mite. I knew of a weevil, but as I said, not a mite. This may explain a rash after handling the flour, because there were no obvious weevils. Unpleasant!"
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"I had no idea that there were flour mites. I gained a lot of knowledge about all types of mites. And I didn't know that weevils could crash under the new shelf paper I laid when I moved in."
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"I noticed that in the jars I keep opened rice, there are these long thin bugs that have found a way to get into the sealed jar. I will use this method to see if it will make a difference. "
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