There are quite a few insects and arachnids that can cause significant harm to products. Flour mite also belongs to them. A tiny insect can cause many problems in humans. Getting rid of the tick is quite difficult. Are there preventative measures, and how to fight if an insect has already been detected? We will talk about this in the article.
What is a flour tick?
There are pests of plants, grains, other food products, which are quite problematic to get rid of. Among them, one can distinguish flour or, as it is also called, a barn tick. It would seem, what harm can an insect smaller than a centimeter do? In fact, with the advent of this arachnid, food begins to deteriorate and rot.
Notice the flour mite is quite difficult because of its small size and color. The body has a white color, the legs are brown. He has quite strong and powerful paws, thanks to which he quietly moves on a flat vertical surface (for example, glass).
Females live relatively shortly. In the summer, 2-3 months, in the winter up to 6 months. During this period, they are able to lay up to 200 eggs. The flour mite feeds on wheat grains, flax seeds, legumes and others. The most delicious food for him is that which is rich in fatty compounds.
Where does the pest live?
The location of the flour mite may be different. Often he is met in residential premises, in a mill, flour mill, bakeries, shops, warehouses. In addition, he feels great in the soil, haystacks, burrows of moles and mice.
The most favorable temperature for the flour mite is 22-24 °. Under these conditions, the female mates actively with the male. After a few days, she can already lay her eggs (3-4 per day). Offspring, as a rule, reproduce close to those places where there is food.
The temperature regime in which the female cannot lay eggs is more than 30 ° and less than 8 °.
Cleanliness of barns is the key to grain conservation
In order not to get a flour mite, it is necessary to properly store products and crops, especially with regard to storage facilities. There are some tips on how to avoid this pest in barns:
Maintain proper temperature and moisture. From time to time, the room must be aired. Provide climate control. This can be done with air conditioners and fans. If the products allow, it is better to keep them at low temperatures, in which case barn mites are unlikely to appear.
Keep warehouses in perfect cleanliness. If garbage, dust, other wastes appear, they must be removed.
Make sure that no mice are found in the room. They are carriers of such ticks.
Quality control. Weekly inspection of stored products for small pest scales.
In addition, the vehicle and containers in which grain and other products interesting for the flour mite are transported must be kept clean.
How to understand that a tick is wound up in flour?
Pests of plants, cereals, and legumes can be found not only in barns and warehouses, where a large number of products. This can happen at home. Most often ticks are found in flour. They are so small that at first glance it is impossible to notice the danger. But no matter how these arachnids disguise themselves, there are ways to understand that they are wound up in products:
Look closely at the color of the flour, the paws of the pests have a characteristic brown color, so a crust similar to sand forms on the surface.
Barn mites have a characteristic mint-like odor. The taste of the product can also change, giving a sugary sweet.
Ticks never stand still, they are constantly moving. Therefore, you can pour the flour to the surface, flatten and pay attention in 10-15 minutes. If pests are present, bumps will appear.
Another simple way is to use double-sided tape. Glue it in a cabinet where flour, drying, legumes and other products are stored. After a few days, take a magnifier and carefully inspect the surface of the tape.
Flour mites do not bite, but many people come in contact with these pests and have allergic reactions in the form of itching and redness of the skin.
These tips will help you quickly detect the pest and prevent its reproduction.
The parasite is found, further actions to destroy it
If a flour mite has been discovered , the fight against it should be started immediately.
First you need to carefully fold all the spoiled products into a garbage bag and put them in a tank away from home. Do not forget to tidy up in the closet. The surest way is a vinegar solution. After that, thoroughly dry the shelf with a hairdryer. Make sure that there is no debris or crumbs left in the corners and crevices. To do this, use a vacuum cleaner.
Another important detail is the processing of cans and containers, in which food and groceries infected with flour mites were stored. They need to be washed well with warm water, it is better to then heat it up and dry thoroughly. Only then can they be used.
The flour mite is not dangerous to humans. But in some cases, when ingested with food, allergic reactions can occur, including loss of consciousness and respiratory arrest.
Are there any preventative measures?
In order not to encounter the problem of flour mites in the apartment, it is necessary to observe preventive measures:
- Once a month, clean up the closet. Remove excess crumbs, dust and so on.
- It is better to store flour, groceries, legumes, dried fruits and other products in closed jars or vacuum bags.
- Try to maintain the desired temperature. Do not allow the cabinet to be located close to the stove.
- Flour mites do not tolerate the smell of bay leaves. Spread it around the perimeter of the cabinet, and you can forget about the problem of pests.
Flour mite is a common pest. In addition to the fact that it spoils the products, it also leads to the formation of mold, the appearance of other microorganisms. After that, for example, cereals are unsuitable for planting. It is necessary to carry out preventive measures to exclude the appearance of a barn tick.