moths in airtight container

[kyle]

Yesterday I was running low on finch seed when I remembered putting some away in a airtight container. I was shocked to see moths. I have never seen this before. I got on the forum and looked it up snd found out that they are harmless but a pest. I kept the top on and put it in the freezer. Once frozen I will throw out container and all. What I am surprised about is this contaner is a good one and completely airtight. How are these moths able to survive and reproduce without air? The container was in a dark place for about 2 months.

[finchandlovebird]

I think you would be able to feed the food after well frozen. Will have just a bit of protein in it

[Sally]

Yes, unless the seed is completely messed up with the webs from the moths, it is OK to feed it after you have had it in the freezer. Seed moths are little buggers, seems like they can survive an awful lot.

[lovezebs]

kyle

Watch those suckers, they can get into anything, it doesn't matter how airtight you think a container is. They can also get into your pantry and into boxes of cookies, crackers, practically anything.

My father, had a batch of outdoor bird seed some years ago, that came infested with the darn things. It was practically impossible to get rid of them, and just when you think you got rid of these pests, you suddenly have another bunch of them show up.

They will get into your bird seeds, so you have to be very vigilant with each container that you open. I'd open containers outside, to be on the safe side, that they don't go all over your house.

Elana

[kyle]

Sally, finchandlovebird and Elana. Feed it to them? Ha ha ha I feel like I have a bio hazard in a jar. I got fresh seed today. No way I'm unleashing this plague! The whole thing gets placed in a sealed steel drum and buried. Since they seem to come out of nowhere I will buy smaller bags. Id like to say the lesson here is to keep everything air tight containers but even then no garentee.

[lovezebs]

kyle

Do you have a large freezer?
If you do? Seeds can be kept fresh in the freezer, for fairly long periods of time (or so I am told ).

Elana

[kyle]

True but I wonder how it would affect the seed. Would it sprout after being frozen?

[MariusStegmann]

Kyle you are being too fuzzy. Feed the stuff to your birds, the livefood will do them a world of good. Remember in the wild birds eat all sorts of things. The eggs of the moths were probably in the seed when you bought it.

[debbie276]

Like Marius said, I'm sure the moths came with the seed.

[Lucille]

People actually buy mealworms for birds, and here you are getting bugs for free. If it is just a few I wouldn't sweat it.
I keep seed in the chest freezer (keep dry dogfood, flour, and pasta there too).

[kyle]

Good to know. I was a surprised to find moths in the seed. One of the great things about gouldians is live food isn't a requirement. I just didn't want a problem with moths in the house. Why go there if I could avoid it.

[jonvill]

I had a moth problem once with the bulk seed I buy.
I keep my seed in a plastic storage bin so I added cedar shingles I had left over from a project under the seed bags and the moths are gone.

[lovezebs]

Lucille

Mealworms, don't infest your house for months on end, getting into every food item that's not in a hermetically sealed can.

These suckers do.

So unless your birdies have free run of the house to hunt these pests, I wouldn't recommend welcoming them into your home.

[lovezebs]

jonvill

Did the cedar sent not put the birds off the seed?

[Lucille]

Elana,
Once the seed is frozen, there is no problem, the birds get to eat the frozen bugs, and the bugs don't multiply.
I am pretty sure most seed will have bug eggs, just keep frozen except for the seed you are feeding that week.