Bugs..

[quietdynamics]

 
So sometimes we may feel that bug-like sensation .. and nothing is there.

Then there is real life.

Came home from vacation and found a healthy population of pantry moths.. 
My right arm is trashed again.. so I closed the door for a day.

Finally got to it with help.. fortunately we had stopped buying food before we left.. and a number of items were already in glass containers, but, you have to check everything.. and even then??
Threw out open bags and had to open the few boxes we have. We don't have much boxed food so not a big lose.
Pantry Moths - Life Cycle and Moth Control (part 1)
http://www.pantrymothtrap.com/pantry-moths.html

Are the mosquitos coming out earlier?
They seem to be infringing on my outdoor time.
I read somewhere that they are attracted to certain people more than others.
I have bits through my clothes.. how rude.  And it seems the bites last longer and if we itch them, we heal slower.
Guess I should grow a  Citronella plant.

Went on a garden tour/talk the other early evening.
Looked at displays and walked though a dedicated meadow garden, native plant/tree area with path.
Was really tired yesterday and stayed in.. felt 'something' on forehead... itched it off and it was a tick.
Happy it was just on top of skin.. not bitten.

Before I left for garden tour I invited my neighbor.. She showed me her tree with small cone-like things that were moving.  Huh? Infestation of Bagworms. Amazing camouflage. Very destructive.


Fruit flies.
Bananas are ripening so quickly and so..
A wonderful bloom of fruit flies.
So I rinse them off under water and put them in fridge.. DH does not like this. "Bananas turn brown in the refrigerator".. Hmm or beckon fruit flies on the counter?  Our great debate.
Anyone have an idea other than the refrigerator?
Because I simply do not like putting my coffee down and then going for another sip.. and seeing a 'swimmer' or should i write ' drowner' floating on top.
Once by accident some fruit flies got into the microwave, which I used.. they survived.. Wow!

So fellow Sjoggies pseudo itch on our skin from our condition,then the after effect of real bugs that leaves us twinge and jump when a strand of hair bushes our skin. Guess I am feeling "buggy"...lol

Have a great day ~

[Carolina]

Oh, NO, QD.  Pantry moths are what I think led to the Passover custom among observant Jews, of throwing everything away once a year, and burying the dishes for a while.

I've had them and they are like zombies, they just keep coming back.  However, it can be done.  I hope you have a fairly high 'ick factor' tolerance.  I do, to some extent.

WE are having very hot weather now, so some ants have begun to prowl around our kitchen.  If they don't recede on their own, I'll call our extermination service.  Tho' I could also just put out some of those black things that get rid of them, too.  I just hate seeing them. (they could at least camouflage them a little?).

We don't have many mosquitos here in our neck of the woods.  Probably just too dang hot for them.  I noticed they were lots worse in New England than in Georgia, and of course there were none near us in El Paso, only along the Rio Grande. 

I'm just amazed that I have avoided both ticks and poison ivy in a life fraught with other problems.   

I never spend any time outside (well, Fire Ant Saga is the exception) because of the heat and humidity and instability on uneven ground.  Oh, and not walking all that well, also.  And I love the outdoors.  I'm so glad we have huge windows in our house and can see out into the woods.

Oh YES some people are just 'dessert' to some insects.  I remember being so surprised how I wasn't bitten in Georgia, and my French daughter-in-law was standing right next to me, getting bitten right and left, as was her daughter, my granddaughter.

I guess I used to be tasty, but now I'm not?  I get a few breaks!   I used to have horrible large oozing 'things' for months after a mosquito bite, in New Hampshire, and black flies!  OMG.

Just thinking about 'bugs' makes me develop an itch!   Fruit flies are indestructible.  But I don't see them often. 

We did see a big doe today in the woods.  I know deer are pests, as are the Canada Geese we have on the ponds in our association.  But it's always fun to see what appears to me to be wildlife!

Hugs, Elaine

[Sleepy In Seattle]

For the pantry moths, check your herbs and spices, too....we found an infestation in our Cayenne pepper one time!!!! Tough little buggers....

My first riding instructor (when I was 7) advised me to take extra B-vitamins to ward off all kinds of stinging insects. Won't get rid of them completely, but it makes you less appealing to them...they don't like the smell of it on your skin. And B-vitamins are water-soluble, so any of it that your body doesn't use just gets excreted in urine (assuming you're drinking enough water day-to-day). I find that taking one extra B-Complex per day works pretty well.

I don't mind insects - I appreciate that they have an important role to play in the ecosystem - but I sure don't like 'em crawling on me and stinging me and sucking my blood and eating my food!!!! 

[quietdynamics]

So far so good with the pantry.

Sleepy In Seattle.. thank for the info on B-complex.

I don't mind insects either.. outside the home.
Moths away from wool.

Just came in from a relaxing time seating outside with the "Super Moon" watching granddaughter running around catching fireflies.. which she let go before coming in. So much fun watching her.

Carolina..think most Moms and/or people who have had pets have a higher "ick" factor.. 

[lighthouse33]

If they're fruit flies, the eggs come in on the bananas and hatch when conditions are right; they're not coming in afterwards.  Rinsing bananas when you get them home from the store will help.  Otherwise, leaving no food exposed anywhere (close up your trash can at night) will get rid of them in a few days

community.stretcher.com/forums/t/6981.aspx

get gnats occasionally but not where it's really problematic.  I have thrown yellow bananas in the fridge for a few days and they've kept ok without spoiling.  If you find that your bananas are going brown faster than you can use them you can put them in the freezer peel and all and they will keep really well.  I've been doing this for years and then just pull out the banana when I need it and let it thaw on the counter or in a bit of warm water, they peel protects the fruit perfectly.

If you buy bananas that are not 'ripe' yet, just leave out on the counter for a few days and once they are 'ripe', place unpeeled into the refrigerator - the cold makes the banana 'not-ripen' anymore; the skins will turn brown, but the banana will be good for up to two-week (depending on the 'ripeness'). Also, freezing bananas in their skins works great, too. Just remove what you need - frozen makes great smoothies and thawed bananas can be added to baking.

Gnats have already laid their eggs on your fruit at the store, then you bring it home, the gnats develop and start the cycle again - gnats live about 10 days and breed a plenty!  Remove their water and food source - including taking care of potted plants, and hopefully, this will help your problem.

ths.gardenweb.com/forums/load/cooking/msg0921175426992.html

Banana Bunker:

bananabunker.com/

Have you tried a banana stand?

[slccom]

Take your vacuum cleaner and the wand and vacuum those fruit flies up. That is rather fun, and you don't have to wait too long to do it again!

Sharon

[Cassi307]

I recently had an invasion of ants moving across my bathroom floor. Just finished bragging to a friend that I haven't had ants indoors for the last two years. I jinxed myself. I had nothing to use to get rid of them and I have a son who doesn't want me to kill them, just send them outside. Well, I lost the Pied Piper's phone number so I resorted to a household remedy- salt. We lost a few ants in the process but they are gone for good.

[daisymay]

I once had a pharmacist tell me about the B vitamins working. He also said that there is some thought that mosquitoes are more attracted by certain blood types. How the buggies know this beats me!

[lighthouse33]

Crazy Ants Could Destroy the Entire Gulf Coast

They're coming by the billions - strange, creepy creatures that appear to be impossible to kill. They started in Texas, but they don't intend to stay there.

By Jon Mooallem from New York Times

rd.com/culture/crazy-ants/

[Cassi307]

Crazy Ants Could Destroy the Entire Gulf Coast

They're coming by the billions - strange, creepy creatures that appear to be impossible to kill. They started in Texas, but they don't intend to stay there.

By Jon Mooallem from New York Times

rd.com/culture/crazy-ants/

Ugh.. Creepy. I hate creepy crawlers..

[machenza]

Creepy is right. I am so glad that pest control is a priority in Japan,

Nellie