Moth Genocide

It started a few weeks ago when I opened the kitchen cabinet and let out a scream. Actually it started before then when we bought a grain product that was contaminated with moth larva. From there the moth larva became caterpillars and eventually moths. Pantry moths to be exact, that then infested our kitchen cabinet eating all our grains, nuts, teas and backing supplies.

Unable to deal with the extensive cleaning required to rid our house of moths I killed all the moths and caterpillars I could find and hoped that would be enough. According to the internet, and also our experience a few days later, it was not. To kill pantry moths one must discard all grains including pasta, nuts, teas, organic cereal, and organic granola bars that are expensive but taste so good when dipped in applesauce. Everything in our cabinets got tossed with the exception of 2 jars of unopened jam. We then proceeded to wash down the cabinets with hot water followed by a vinegar rinse. We hoped it would be enough.

Much to our chagrin we saw an occasional moth, then a few moths a day, then a couple of caterpillars. We are back at where we started with fewer moths but again faced with the task of cleaning everything in our kitchen with vinegar and committing moth genocide.