Bugs, Bugs and More Bugs

18th August 2008

posted in home |

I just want to go on record to say that I am completely disgusted. You see, we’ve been having a problem with these little bugs getting into our food that is in our pantry. These bugs are larger than a weevil, but I do believe they are more than likely related.

Two months ago, I completely emptied my pantry. I tossed any food that was in open packaging and discovered what I thought was the source, bags of chocolate chips. I then put anything that wasn’t all ready in Tupperware into containers or ziploc bags. Even boxed mixes that had never been opened I slipped inside a ziploc bag for protection.

Then, a couple of weeks ago, my husband found these little buggers in the container of bread crumbs. We promptly tossed it out and I went through the pantry again. I didn’t find anything else, so I thought maybe it was just something I had missed. Today told me I was wrong.

I found a ziploc bag, completely sealed with 2 never opened boxes of Jiffy corn muffin mix inside the bag. Bugs everywhere inside the bag. I am pissed to say the least.

I proceeded to go through the entire pantry, again. I found the bugs in sealed bags of cereal and an open box of pasta. I have thrown it all out. Apparently, ziploc bags aren’t good enough for fighting these bugs. I prefer Tupperware, but since I can’t afford it right now, I’m heading to Target to get some Rubbermaid containers. I’m going to try to find a large square or rectangular container that I can set boxes of mixes inside of and then seal with a lid. I’m also going to get some containers for the cereal.

Food is just way to expensive to have to be throwing it out. In case you’re wondering, living in Texas, it’s routine to have your home exterminated on a regular basis. I have our house done every 3 months.

Tags: exterminator, Rubbermaid, Texas, Tupperware, weevil

This entry was posted on Monday, August 18th, 2008 at 11:12 am and is filed under home. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

August 2008
S	M	T	W	T	F	S
« Jul		Sep »
	1	2
3	4	5	6	7	8	9
10	11	12	13	14	15	16
17	18	19	20	21	22	23
24	25	26	27	28	29	30
31

August 2008

« Jul

Sep »

1 On August 18th, 2008, carol said:

Ugh…I have never seen bugs that could get through zip lick bags into closed boxes. Good luck in your bug battle.

carol’s last blog post..Parenting Teens: Good Parents: Difficult Kids: Part One

posted on August 18th, 2008 at 5:01 pm

2 On August 18th, 2008, Lynn K. said:

Ewww, that is so disgusting. Good luck in finding a way to keep them out.

Lynn K.’s last blog post..And the Winner Is…..

posted on August 18th, 2008 at 7:57 pm

3 On August 18th, 2008, Christy said:

We had a similar problem years back and the only thing that got rid of it was putting everything -from cereal to rice to pasta to flour - into Rubbermaid/Tupperware containers. Once everything was sealed up, it ended, so you’re on the right track! Best of luck!

Christy @ Motherhood-Unscripted.com’s last blog post..Alzheimer’s Memory Walk

posted on August 18th, 2008 at 8:47 pm

4 On August 18th, 2008, lynne said:

Carol - I found some of these bugs that had chewed through the chocolate chip packaging. I guess I should have known the ziplocs wouldn’t be enough.

posted on August 18th, 2008 at 10:40 pm

5 On August 18th, 2008, lynne said:

Lynn - I agree! It’s completely and totally disgusting! I’m trying hard to get rid of them, ewwww!

posted on August 18th, 2008 at 10:42 pm

6 On August 18th, 2008, lynne said:

Christy - Yep, it’s container shopping I will go! Even bug sprays and professional exterminators are no match for these bugs.

posted on August 18th, 2008 at 10:43 pm

7 On August 19th, 2008, Monique said:

Ewww!!

My mom used to have that problem back when I lived at home. It really freaked me out, and so I find myself checking everything in my cupboards over and over expecting to find some.

I hope you get the problem solved quick.

Monique’s last blog post..Who Cares That It Cost Me Three Paychecks. OK, It Was Four!

posted on August 19th, 2008 at 1:46 am

8 On August 19th, 2008, Sam said:

That’s disgusting. I hate it when the confusion of how they keep getting into your life is greater than the actual yuckiness of it. We’ve found slug trails in our house and we haven’t seen ONE yet. It’s annoying.

Sam’s last blog post..Most embarrassing experience since someone forgot to slice the bread…

posted on August 19th, 2008 at 6:58 am

9 On August 19th, 2008, Susan Helene Gottfried said:

I read an article once that advocated putting things in glass containers to keep the bugs out. Any sort of plastic can be chewed through, but glass is a bit harder to infiltrate.

Good luck! That’s quite a yucky situation you’ve got.

Susan Helene Gottfried’s last blog post..Susan’s Fashion File: Business Attire

posted on August 19th, 2008 at 10:17 am

10 On August 19th, 2008, Leanna said:

What are they - super bugs? I have never heard of this before. Hope you can get it fixed fast! Great blog you have here.

posted on August 19th, 2008 at 10:24 am

11 On August 19th, 2008, lynne said:

Monique - I know, I hate finding bugs of any kind in the house, but when they’re in my food it really freaks me out.

posted on August 19th, 2008 at 12:22 pm

12 On August 19th, 2008, lynne said:

Sam - I hate that I can’t figure out where these bugs are coming from. I just need to get everything put in containers so these bugs have no more desire to come into my home!

Susan - I think the higher quality plastic containers work well, as long as they have a really good seal on them. Cheap containers just don’t work.

posted on August 19th, 2008 at 12:25 pm

13 On August 19th, 2008, lynne said:

Leanna - I do believe these may indeed be super bugs! No matter what I do, they keep coming back!

posted on August 19th, 2008 at 12:26 pm

14 On August 19th, 2008, Sassy Mama Bear said:

Yeah that would be frustrating to no end, I can barely keep these kids fed as it is to have bugs eat the food.
I am just wondering where they are coming from, because finding the source would help with the problem too. I keep most grains in glass containers myself, and some in strong plastic, so you have the right idea there. Good luck, and hope the bug season is soon over.

Sassy Mama Bear’s last blog post..Embracing Simplicity

posted on August 19th, 2008 at 1:21 pm

15 On August 19th, 2008, valmg said:

Good luck. My Mom had that problem once when I was young. To this day I always find myself checking rice, oatmeal and other foods from the cabinet for odd looking things.

valmg’s last blog post..Beach House giveaway winner

posted on August 19th, 2008 at 8:18 pm

16 On August 19th, 2008, lynne said:

Val - I’ve decided that checking food is not such a bad habit. I’d rather find the critters before cooking it than as I’m getting ready to eat it! I’ve kept most of my foods like flour and such in tupperware for as long as I can remember. Now I have to start doing it for everything else. Such a pain in the you know what!

posted on August 19th, 2008 at 8:32 pm

17 On August 19th, 2008, lynne said:

Sassy - Yep, I keep rice, pastas and such in containers, but it’s the boxed mixes and cereal that I’m going to have to get containers for now. I’ve just concluded that there can be absolutely nothing that’s not in a sealed container, unless it’s a canned item!

posted on August 19th, 2008 at 8:34 pm