Really strange! Moths!

[Jane]

I hope no one thinks I'm gross or anything because of this

Recently there have been loads of moths in my room and I couldn't (still can't!) decide what it is..they have been mainly in Charlies cage and flying around. I made sure the window is closed so they're not getting in that way and there is none throughout the house, they're only in my room.

I really couldn't decide what it was but because it was mainly Charlies cage I decided it could be the food (there were a few in Tacs cage too). I opened the food and there were quite a few moths in there (eww!) so I decided it must be that. I threw the food away, washed out all containers and bought more (they are currently on my local pet shops own brand..I don't really like it but they had no Harry Hamster so it will do for now, it's also helping to prove it's not the harry hamster). I cleaned out the cages because I thought of eggs and stuff (don't really know how moths work but hey..) and yeah, all was good..for now.

Now, they are everywhere again! Earlier there must have been atleast eight in Charlies cage. I really don't understand! I think it's the aubiose? but when I open the bag there is none in there they're only in Charlies cage and around the room. There's also none in Tacs cage.

I'm confused..could it be the aubiose? It can't be the food now? I'm just confused and don't understand They don't seem to be bothering Charlie too much and I've been squishing them (I HATE killing bugs, but I'm willing to kill them to get them out of my hamsters cage!) and I've killed loads (sorry ikkle mothies..) and I don't understand.

Is this my fault? I don't really understand why they're suddenly here? I've started using a bit of aspen woodshavings with their aubiose lately, but it's from pampered piggies (www.pamperedpiggies.co.uk) which is a really reputable site in the piggy world so I can't understand.

Help..please before the moths eat me.

Jane.

[souffle]

How very odd Jane. We have aubiose but no moths. Are they definitly moths? We get little flies sometimes that come to eat the snails fruit and veg. Try and catch a moth, dead or alive and photograph it then maybe find a 'moth' website and see if you can identify the type. If you can find this you can trace the life cycle and hopefully find out the source where they breed. There are not normally many moths around at this time of year so I am sure they must be coming in in either food or bedding. Post the pic here and we will see if we can track them. I am sure they are harmless but a bit scarey when there are a lot of them I imagine.

[newtohamsters]

I have had moths in my hamster food and indeed the rat food too, it was gross and freaked me out great big flappy things

Even once i got rid of the food they still came so I am afraid I did a huge room clean, as in hoovered curtains and behind all furniture, I am now very careful and check the food all the time. Apparently if you freeze the food, it kills the eggs.......yuck.....

you seem to cope much better then me, they scared me!!!

xx

[Hanlou]

Well, I've heard of a lot of people having larvae in their food - be it rat food, rabbit food, hamster food..... so I would say it's that. I can't answer the question as to why it's still happening though! Perhaps they have 'nested' somewhere in your house? I can't see it being the aubiose because it wouldn't feed them, this is what I am currently using. But if you're not sure, by all means chuck everything and start from fresh including the aubiose.

But there's an article Here about the Indian Meal Moth which is often found in grain feed unfortunately. So I would be 99% certain that's where your moths are coming from! Maybe you can identify them from the link provided.

I've never had it happen to me though I did have some little food mite things once which were horrible! They were tiny, like moving dust! Ick! I had to chuck a load of food, bedding etc and had to disinfect everything. Absolutely *any* grainy type food gets stored in an airtight container here after this experience as the little so-and-so's got everywhere.

My flour goes in airtight containers too as weevils are so common - I had an outbreak of them recently but fortunately they were contained in the storage tub. :P

I hope this helps anyway, and hope you manage to get it sorted out soon!

[Spuds Mum]

I've never had it with the Aubiose either Jane so I would tend to agree with it possibly being the food (and I guess even if you remove the offending food, the moths may have already laid eggs elsewhere (sorry for grossing you out about that!)

Hope you get it sorted though cause I'm sure it can't be nice for you!

[Bunsey]

oh my god i would completely freak out and refuse to sleep in the house if that happened to me
our harry ham is just in a bag on the floor, which i use to keep re-filling a tupperware box of it to fill bowls from.

[jayne]

I have just plucked up the courage to read this! I hate moths, and i mean hate them, anything that flutters freaks me out, butterflies, pigeons and moths are my worst nightmare!
I am going to look through my food supplies and make sure there is nothing lurking about in there! I really feel for you Jane, hope they flutter off soon...

[Jane]

Thanks guys...I'm not really sure what to do though! Eughh I'm all itchy lol

I'm not sure whether they are actually moths but they look like them. I will try and have a look at some sites to identify them but they're scary

newtohamsters, I guess I will do a big clean then and clean everything..eek.

[DonnaB]

Originally Posted by jayne

I have just plucked up the courage to read this! I hate moths, and i mean hate them, anything that flutters freaks me out, butterflies, pigeons and moths are my worst nightmare!
I am going to look through my food supplies and make sure there is nothing lurking about in there! I really feel for you Jane, hope they flutter off soon...

I am absolutely terrified of moths!!!