Moth question

[Ursula]

I do like bugs, and I LOVE lady bugs.

The only bugs that make ME freak out are the roaches, which I had at one point last summer until I could convince my husband that what we have in the aviary are not "harmless beetles" but full grown cock roaches and that we have to set some traps and bait in the house to get them. (I am really an animal lover but my husband tops me any time. He catches every spider in the house and sets them free outside. He doesn't even swat at mosquitoes and lets them bite him... )

[atarasi]

Thanks everyone. I didn't really think it was as big of a problem since I was only seeing maybe a dozen moths. In hindsight, this may have been the reason why I've had several Gouldians pass away.

I'll try the vaccum method and the Diatomaceous earth. I know some seed suppliers actually add the Diatomaceous to their supply to make sure moths aren't a problem. It's good for fleas too, but my dogs don't have problems with those.

[cindy]

Bugs...being married to an Entomologist has it's perks! Strange bugs or spiders he would ID it. Our daughters' friends' parents would send baggies home with the girls..."ID this please." My favorite was one of them actually squashed it, put it in a baggy and sent it home with my youngest for him to ID!

As far as letting a mosquito bite me...my motto "the only good mosquito is a dead mosquito" Hubby's degree is mosquito borne disease, so I will squash them rather than let them bite me.

By the way, you can get grain moths and bettles in pastas, flour and rice. That is a nice surprise especially if the box was just bought from the grocery store. During the summer months check your dry good cabinet often and I but boxes of rice and pasta in zip lock bags. Same with dry dog food and cat foods, check those often also.

As far as diseases the grain moths and their larve carry I'll have to check with him to see if there is a risk.

I bought a bag of wild finch seed with sunflowers in it from Lowes. I poured it into a tupperware container. Upon opening it a little while later I noticed a moth or two and some larve. I right away dumped it and disposed of the bag outside, that was gross.

[atarasi]

Thanks Cindy.....curious if the moths/larvae carry anything harmful.

[gouldianscy]

don't know what this plant(tree) is called in english, we call it daphne. See link below
http://www.hungry.gr/bahar/dafnh.asp
Had a problem last summer because of the extreme heat that was all over in the seed bags and containers.
Got rid of all of the infested seed and in the new containers I added a few dried leaves of daphne. That was it, never again a saw a moth in my seed. Funny enough, I actually put some fresh leaves in the seed bags I have now open as a precaution since the temperature started rising here.
There are also other things to do like use fig tree leaves. I didn't know myselfg either and after asking in a greek forum last Summer I found a few different ways to fight them. You can also leave a few or a lot!!! if you feel like it leaves around your birds. Oh, and by the way if you are wondering what if your birds try to eat or bite a small peiece that you might accidentaly pour in their seed dish, do not worry, it is not poisonous.They will try to eat it but leave it since it has a rather bitter taste. So it's a safe way for you and your birds to fight seed moths.

PS. Found the latin name of the plant, it's Laurus Nobilis

[Sally]

Common name of that plant is Bay. I have a small Bay tree which is potted up, but it stayed outside all winter with no protection and made it thru cold spells and snow in USDA zone 7b-8a. I put bay leaves in my cupboards to prevent bugs, don't know why it didn't occur to me to put some leaves in my seed! Thanks for the tip!

[Ursula]

That's a great tip! I have to try that with my seed. Thanks for sharing this!!

[atarasi]

Am I missing something?!! It's that simple? Bay leaves as in a cooking spice?

[gouldianscy]

Yes, that's right Jordan. And yes indeed, it's that simple. But if you cut them yourself as I said let them dry first and then use them. Well, and of course wash them first before you dry the leaves. If you buy them from a grocery store then no worries but make sure they are rather fresh so they still have that distinct smell (aroma)that will chase the bugs away!

[Ursula]

Just to doublecheck: When you say it "chases the bugs away"... What about a closed container? What happens to the moths? Should I open the container with the bay leaves and place it outside and they disappear? Or will the bayleaves kill them IN the container?

[gouldianscy]

Ursula that was said metaphorically. On my first post I said get rid of all the contaminated seed. Bay leaves most likely will kill them but it's not the most healthy seeds for your birds to eat. Put bay leaves on your fresh and uncontaminated seeds to avoid getting the moth in the seed containers again.

[atarasi]

I don't have the bag in front of me, but I wonder if the "Herb Salad" has Bay in it....

[Ursula]

Ursula that was said metaphorically. On my first post I said get rid of all the contaminated seed. Bay leaves most likely will kill them but it's not the most healthy seeds for your birds to eat. Put bay leaves on your fresh and uncontaminated seeds to avoid getting the moth in the seed containers again.

Thanks!
I guess the problem is that the seed is already contaminated when I get it. I never fill new seed in the container when it still has the previous seed in it, and the container is not in the aviary so bugs that are already in my house can't get in... I got seed from various places and never know when I get bugs with it. The same place that sells me clean seed might sell me the exact same brand with bugs the next time... Guess I gotta live with that...

[dfcauley]

Fig leaves??? Does that help??? I have fig trees in my yard.

[atarasi]

I'm turning my entire birdroom upside down and starting over. I'm cleaning cages and consolidating birds into other cages so I can eventually have everything cleaned up. I was at Lowe's to buy some Diatomateous Earth, but put it back on the shelf after reading the back. "Warning - keep away from domesticated animals."

Is this okay? It was a 4lb bag made by "Safer Brand". Am I being paranoid?