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Many excellent seed mixtures contain the small brown candy-moth. If they have been active in the seed for some time, the seed becomes webby, clinging together in small clumps in what appears to be spider webs. If the seed is kept in pails with a tight lid, small candy-moth maggots may appear around the underside of the lid. While these signs show that they are in the seed, the absence of visible signs does not mean that there are none present. Although they are harmless, tiny worms and creepy-crawlies in the seed bins, (together with moths flying around your head all day), can convert a minor irritation into a major problem. If left unchecked in an enclosed area, they will get into everything: into nest-boxes, on the floor, in the carpets, in cupboards, everywhere! None of the commercially advertised insect sprays will eradicate these moths. They will knock down those that happen to be on the wing,but you can't spray anywhere close to the birds, and hiding in the seed bins, cage bottoms, seed pots and up various corners lurk a whole new generation of moths, all waiting for you to put the spray back on the shelf. The cycle never ends. To get rid of them all, and stay rid of them, here is a battle plan... * Freeze everything in your freezer for at least 48 hours, including seed, millet sprays, soft food, litter, and treats...even products in vacuum sealed packages. * Store seed in containers with a tight lid. * Hang moth traps in critical locations in your bird-room. * Hang Dichlorvox insect strips, produced by several manufacturers under various trade names. Green Cross strips completely wipe out any remaining moth population, and their continued use prevents unpleasant recurrent infestations. |
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