I've noticed the pesky visitors lately too. I've tried to shoo them out of the house through an open door but have found them, frankly, a little on the stupid side. However, they have provided endless entertainment for my very bored cat.

Our cats just sit and watch them. My fear is that they are breeding in one of our cabinets. Apparently they can also lay eggs in your dry goods.

ok, stop everything you're doing and heed this advice very seriously: gtake everything that's in paper or plastic bags and but put them into plastic or glass containers. (i use vintage mason jars, because i have like a hundred.)

and i mean everything, not just flour: jello, tea, salad dressing mix, pasta. and wash the inside of the cabinets with a bleach solution.

i know this sounds excessive, but i implore you to do it. because i know what happens if you don't, and i know it from TWO episodes that in total lasted a year.

yeah, that's what i figured that i'd need to do. sounds like tit's going to be really times tonight.

Grumpygirl don't leave us in suspense... what happened???

ew and ew! i noticed a LOT of moths in my apt lately.. like small brownish.. seemingly harmless, but annoying... But I didn't worry about it much bc I moved out of there a few days ago. Wonder if they'll stay or if I brought them with me to the new place. Guess we'll find out!

Okay, as an entomologist I need to tell you that this type of infestation is RIDICULOUSLY common and not at all dangerous. Just tell yourself, "At least it's not bedbugs..."

Most store bought dry goods contain insect eggs, it just happens. Keeping dry goods in plastic or glass is good, but if the pests are REALLY bad, put everything in the freezer. It doesn't ruin the food, and it keeps the eggs/larvae unviable. With diligence, the problem will right itself. Pet food is a REALLY good substrate for egg-laying insects. Keep the cat food in plastic bins at all times.

For drain flies, I always undo my u-bend and give everything a good scrub. Then I put baking soda and vinegar down the drain. If they don't have anything to lay their eggs on, they can't survive.

Good luck, and if you need anything, don't hesitate to e-mail me. I may be a complete stranger, but I'm a stranger with an advanced degree in entomology.

OH! That makes sense. Irving just started to eat wet food. I rinse the cans and then throw them in the trash. Maybe I should take them right out to the bins instead...

I have had those too! They can even bring this weird larve/wiggling worms with them--I know this from first hand experience of eating a big bite of cereal with them in it! I know, I wanted to die. Called poison control and gargled with peroxide and still am not over it 4 years later. Grumpygirl gives perfect advice. I tried just cleaning and wiping without throwing stuff out--and that doesn't work. I would clean like crazy in the pantry--and the next morning there would be more moths! I tried washing the cans and wiping down the ouside of boxes, and cleaning the pantry with bleach--and still moths a few days later. The only treatment that worked for us was hard core--throw everything way, clean out with bleach and water, and let pantry stand for a few days empty to make sure they were really, really gone. So far they have not come back.
Long-time lurker and far away friend,
Lisa

I had them too....and like Lisa, took a bite of a cracker and then saw the wrigley lava....I couldn't puke fast enough. It was many years ago and it still haunts me...