Double D
267 posts
Aug 25, 2006
8:23 PM
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I found a bunch of little black or really dark brown bugs inside my loft today. They almost look like lice only 10 times bigger. The only place I found them was all over the outside and quite a few on the inside of an open bag of barley. Anyone have any ideas what they might be? I'm not well versed in bugs that frequent seed but they didn't seem like seed-type bugs to me. More like fruit flys but they didn't look like a fly but more like an elongated beatle-type body, maybe 1/8 to 3/16 inches long. An open bag of wheat was right next to the barley and there were some on the outside of the bag of wheat but far more on the bag of barley as if they were partial to the barley.
I'll chuck the barley so I'm not real concerned about that but more concerned about whether or not they might be dangerous to the birds. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!
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Darin Olson
Checkerboard Lofts
Last Edited by Double D on Aug 25, 2006 8:24 PM
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Santandercol
277 posts
Aug 25, 2006
9:29 PM
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Hi Darin,
Sorry,I'm not a bug expert either but just a suggestion....because you don't want anything getting into your bird feed,it would be a good idea to put all grains in plastic buckets with tight lids.I use Rubbermaid 5 gallon containers.A 50 lb bag fits in one almost,so I put each grain in a separate container till I'm ready to mix them,then when it's mixed it goes into 1 gallon juice jugs.Keeps everything clean,dry and bug free.Shop vaccuum the loft every 2 weeks or so especially during the moult period helps alot too to keep down dust and bugs.
Yours in the Sport,
Kelly.
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motherlodelofts
882 posts
Aug 25, 2006
10:55 PM
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I bought some Milo last year that was invested with those ,I got it out of the loft pronto and returned it.
This time of year grains get buggy , didn't like the looks of those things though LOL
Scott
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knaylor
271 posts
Aug 26, 2006
12:25 PM
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Guys, those are weevels (spelling) Really no problem just are usually found in older bags of feed.Almost look like fleas that dont jump.
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Double D
268 posts
Aug 26, 2006
7:32 PM
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knaylor,
I wondered that too but I've seen weevels in ground flour and don't recall them looking like that although it has been a long time. Are there different variations of weevels? The flea description is pretty darn close.
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Darin Olson
Checkerboard Lofts
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motherlodelofts
885 posts
Aug 26, 2006
8:24 PM
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Darin, these looked like pinchers for mouths , narley looking little suckers.
Scott
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Bluesman
Pigeon Fancier
778 posts
Aug 27, 2006
3:27 AM
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Scott.Those ugly critters you are talking about are called Earwigs(sp). I can't remember what the ones Darin is talking about is called but there will be hundreds of them collect all over the outside of feed bags when closed.Especially in hot weather.They seem to especially like the woven feed bags compared to the paper bags.I keep most of my feed in Garbage cans except the dog,chicken & wildlife feed.What I do is set off one of those bug foggers in the feed room.Takes care of all those ugly critters,spiders & bees.It may be harmful to pigeons so I would be careful of their feed and have it in closed containers before spraying.David
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motherlodelofts
886 posts
Aug 27, 2006
7:43 AM
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No Dave these arent earwigs , these are much much smaller and these small pinchers look more for boreing into grain
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knaylor
272 posts
Aug 28, 2006
8:56 AM
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David, they are called weevels!! I worked in a feed mill for a couple of years and have seen plenty. They are found in old feed. They look kinda like fleas is the best way I know how to descibe them. About the same color but dont jump just crawl. Scott you probably got CRABS!!! LOL
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Bluesman
Pigeon Fancier
781 posts
Aug 28, 2006
10:59 AM
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Kevin.I know what a Weevil is.What I am talking about is different than them.I don't recall seeing any like Scott's either.Next time I see mine I will do a close inspection.I think mine may have tiny wings.I tried to find some around my feed room but you know when you want the little buggers they are nowhere to be found.LOL. David
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motherlodelofts
887 posts
Aug 28, 2006
3:13 PM
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If these were bigger they would scare ya LOL
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fhtfire
1408 posts
Jun 15, 2008
9:46 PM
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Sounds like a description of my Ex-wife...LOL>>LOL>>
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Opinionated Blowhard
103 posts
Jun 15, 2008
11:28 PM
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Darin. When I find these they are usually granary weevils that cannot fly. They climb up the edges of the feed buckets, even the plastic sealed ones. Heres a youtube video of them. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m-p1zbJdExY
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DeepSpinLofts
876 posts
Jun 16, 2008
3:19 PM
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Hi Ralph....
===> "Put the buggy feed in the freezer".
That's exactly what a young lady told me about 2 years ago at Western Ranch & Pet Supply in Vacaville, California.
She said that if you freeze the feed in a freezer for about 24 hours this should actually kill the bugs. I don't think the dead bugs will hurt the birds much as they are fairly clean pests (USUALLY DISEASE FREE).
Anyway... the pigeons probably just eat around the dead bugs. Pigeons hate to eat bugs! They taste nasty...
Marcus
Deep spin Lofts
Last Edited by on Jun 16, 2008 3:20 PM
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PR_rollers
1219 posts
Jun 16, 2008
6:58 PM
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Hey Marcus,yeah thats what i do i leave it overnight what i like to do is get a small freezer you know the one you store alot of meat in,and just put the whole bag in there cause by the time i put 4 containers and take out to put in feed bin and filled in 4 more they got around to eat more before they die .. yeah the birds side step the dead one ,but i say if they don't more proteins for them ..lol..
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Ralph
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cvr(FR3rd)
52 posts
Jul 09, 2008
2:51 PM
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were do u store ur feed
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Fernando Ruelas
CVR
Ruelas loft
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