Ticks of flour: description, habitats, ways of fighting

There are quite a few insects and arachnids that are capable of causing significant harm to products. They include the mite. A tiny insect can cause a lot of problems in humans. Getting rid of the tick is hard. Are there any preventive measures, and how to fight if an insect is already found? This is discussed in the article.

What is a flour mite?

There are pests of plants, cereals, and other food products, which are problematic enough to get rid of. Among them we can distinguish a floury or as it is called, barn mite. It would seem, what harm can an insect inflict, the size of which is less than a centimeter? In fact, with the advent of this arachnid begins to deteriorate and rot the food.

It is rather difficult to notice flour mite because of its small size and color. Taurus is white, legs are brown. He has strong enough and powerful paws, due to which he calmly moves on a flat vertical surface (for example, glass).

Females do not live long. In summertime 2-3 months, in winter up to 6 months. During this period they are able to postpone up to 200 eggs. Ticks of flour feed on wheat grains, flax seeds, beans and other crops. The most delicious for him is the food that is rich in fatty compounds.

Where does the pest live?

The locus of a flour mite can be different. Often it is met in living quarters, at a mill, a flour mill, bakeries, shops, warehouses. In addition, he feels great in the soil, haystacks, burrows of moles and mice.

The most favorable temperature for a flour mite is 22-24 °. In these conditions, the female actively mates with the male. After a few days, she can already lay eggs (3-4 times a day). Progeny, as a rule, is reproduced near to those places where there is food.

Temperature regime, in which the female can not lay eggs - more than 30 ° and less than 8 °.

Clean barns - pledge of preserving cereals

In order not to start a mite with flour, it is necessary to store the products and crops properly , especially in the warehouses. There are several tips on how to avoid the appearance of this pest in barns:

1. Maintain proper temperature and moisture. From time to time the room must be ventilated. Provide climate control. This can be done with air conditioners and fans. If the products allow, it is better to keep them at low temperatures, in this case barn mites are unlikely to appear.

2. Keep the warehouses in perfect cleanliness. If there is garbage, dust, other waste, they must be removed.

3. Make sure that there are no mice in the room. They are carriers of such ticks.

4. Quality control. Weekly inspection of stored products for the presence of small pest scales.

In addition, in cleanliness it is necessary to keep a vehicle and containers in which the grain and other products interesting for the flour mite are transported.

How to understand that a mite has gotten into a flour?

Pests of plants, cereals, legumes can be planted not only in barns and warehouses, where a large number of products. It can happen in the home. The mites are most often planted in flour. They are so small that at first glance it is impossible to notice the danger. But no matter how these arachnids are camouflaged, there are ways to understand that they are wound up in products:

1. Carefully look at the color of flour, the paws of pests have a characteristic brown color, so a crust similar to sand forms on the surface.

2. Barn mites have a characteristic smell, similar to mint. The taste of the product can also change, giving away the lusciously sweet.

3. The mites never stand still, they constantly move. Therefore, you can pour the flour on the surface, smooth out and pay attention in 10-15 minutes. If pests are present, irregularities will appear.

4. Another simple method is the use of double-sided scotch tape. Glue it in a locker, where flour, drying, beans and other products are stored. After a few days, take a magnifying glass and carefully inspect the surface of the tape.

Flies do not bite, but many people come into contact with these pests allergic reactions in the form of itching and redness of the skin.

These tips will help you quickly identify the pest and prevent its reproduction.

Parasite found, further actions to destroy it

If a flour mite was found , the fight with it should be started immediately.

First you need to put all the spoiled products neatly in a garbage bag and take them out of the house to the tank. Do not forget to put it in the closet. The surest way - a solution of vinegar. After this, carefully dry the shelf with a hairdryer. Take care not to leave any debris and crumbs in the corners and crevices. To do this, use a vacuum cleaner.

Another important detail - the processing of cans and containers, which stored food and groceries infected with flour mites. They need to be thoroughly washed with warm water, it is better after this to heat-treat and thoroughly dry. Only after that they can be used.

Flies are not dangerous to humans. But in some cases, when ingested with food, allergic reactions may occur, including loss of consciousness and respiratory arrest.

Are there any preventive measures?

In order not to face the problem of flour mites in the apartment, it is necessary to observe preventive measures:

1. Once a month to put things in order in the closet. Remove excess crumbs, dust and so on.
2. Flour, groceries, beans, dried fruits and other products should be stored in closed jars or vacuum bags.
3. Try to maintain the desired temperature. Do not let the closet sit close to the stove.
4. Flies mites do not tolerate the smell of bay leaf. Lay it around the perimeter of the cabinet, and you can forget about the problem of the appearance of pests.

Ticks of flour - a common pest. Besides, that it spoils the products, it also leads to the formation of mold, the appearance of other microorganisms. After that, for example, grains are unsuitable for planting. It is necessary to carry out preventive measures to exclude the appearance of barn mites.