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Post by newmoon on Nov 10, 2008 9:29:30 GMT -5
I recently bought a "healthy" budgie seed mix at a local store.
Recently, I noticed a few very small moths flying around in the bedroom.
I really didn't think much of it, as it's getting cold here in PA and all manner of bugs show up at this time of year.
They are flour moths. They are from the seed mix I bought at the local store.
I JUST SAW A LARVA IN MY CAGE!
Will my birds get sick?
I just read all about the moths on the internet, and I'm throwing all the food away, and cleaning the cage completely, BUT I am VERY worried that they could have had an effect on my birds' health!!
Do I need to worry about them?
What if one of them ATE one??
Please help...
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Post by henryswife on Nov 10, 2008 19:40:20 GMT -5
I am not 'Bird Vet' but I had the same problem many yrs. ago. Was the bird seed one with dried fruit & veg. mixed in with the seed? I bought another brand last yr. when we were going on vac. and they were in the package, saw them because I put all seed-pellets-millet in plastic containers. Threw it right out! Now that you've seen them hatch, check all your paper goods in the house, cereal boxes etc. books too. I don't think if they ate one it would hurt them, someone correct me if I'm wrong. I wash the grates & pull-out poop pan with full strength vinagar, maybe this will kill any eggs they could of left behind. I use these in the pantry & where the birds can't get to them. Hope this link helps. Alice (copy an paste) Having a problem to highlight!  www.birdsupplynh.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=632&osCsid=72fc06340dd6ac41706d2bfe5b07a155What kind of birds do you have? Tried again! Darn changes on computer! They are 'Birdseed moth traps' or you can get 'flour moth traps' I ordered from 'Bird Supply of New hampshire' on line. |
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Post by lmevers on Nov 12, 2008 16:20:14 GMT -5
Oh I feel your pain. These definitely come from the seed/fruit/veggie mix we buy at the stores and even if you do not see them in the package before you buy them, the experts (pest control) have told me the larvae are in safflower seeds (mostly) and will eventually hatch.
In the future, if you freeze all the bird food before using it it seems to cut back the moth problem incredibly.
I have a horrible infestation for three months....hundreds and hundreds of moths. I was killing them all day long, bombing the rooms in my house after moving birds/dogs around and almost had to have an exterminator TENT my house. They reproduce rapidly.
None of my birds seemed to eat them but they were a huge problem. My boyfriend bought some moth traps that came in a brown paper and they were supposidly phermones of some kind and was slated to kill them all quickly. IT MADE THEM WORSE! I suddenly had dozens of MATING moths!! LOL
My exterminator company brought packs of moth bait in little white plastic triangles. (The liquid bait is yellow/orange) and if I keep those out I rarely see a moth.
Good luck...and truly try to freeze your food.
Regards,
Laurie
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Post by henryswife on Nov 12, 2008 20:40:11 GMT -5
I ordered the moth traps on line, than I saw them in 'Dr. Foster & Smith for Birds' catalog. They are suppose to lure the males, so the females won't reproduce. They are triangles with a sticky inside and don't smell bad either.
LOL But if you open my frig. or freezer, half human food & bird food fall out!
Soo, I just stick with a good seed mix without the added stuff, and they get fresh fruit-veg-egg-etc.
I think they eat better than I do! I even grew my own millet this yr. Pic. is in 'Bird Rescipes'
Alice
P.S. I also found these in a cake mix many yrs.. ago at a time we didn't have birds.
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