9 replies to this topic

[djinkc]

I've been keeping specialty grains in a plastic tub and their original bags for years with no problems. When I opened it earlier this week a little flying critter (looked like a tiny moth) flew out. It looks like one that got into some of my wife's cooking grain products - and they had to be tossed.Anyway, there's at least 30# that I have. I was thinking of putting them all in a plastic garbage bag and flooding it with CO2. Good idea?

[Slainte]

You should brew them alive to teach them a lesson.

[RommelMagic]

Do you see larvae too?

[Big Nake]

I know people who put their specialties in plastic containers with tight-fitting lids. I really don't know what you should do with them now that you have noticed the bugs & I'm not sure what the Co2 would do for you. My stuff is just in thick plastic bags too and it's a miracle I have never seen any evidence of bugs in anything that I have stored in the basement. On a related note, one of our LHBSs had been taken over by "grain beetles" and the owner decided to have a big "sale" to get rid of it. He let everyone know about the beetles. I went and picked up something like 20 lbs of pilsner malt for $5 or something. I carefully looked through it to see if there were bugs. I saw none. But when I brewed with it, I noticed them. Hey, they quietly passed in the mash and the beer came out spectacular! A West Coast Lager, IIRC.

[djinkc]

Do you see larvae too?

Nope, and I looked things over pretty well. Fortunately most is in sealed bags I haven't opened yet.

[djinkc]

FWIW, I found some internet advice from someone in Alaska storing all kinds of grain. Put 2oz of dry ice in a 5 gal bucket..... then 3 days kills everythingNo way mine would fit in one so - garbage bag - 8 oz dry ice and all the grain, sucked it down with a vacuum cleaner and sealed it. It's already expanding a bunch - guess I'll leave it until the next brewing session.

[siouxbrewer]

I like that fix Dan, I'll keep it in mind in case I get a case of the creepy crawly critters

[djinkc]

I like that fix Dan, I'll keep it in mind in case I get a case of the creepy crawly critters

I was probably over reacting but I've seen some pretty ugly grain infestations that I would never brew with. Of course that is the exception - plus the grain we picked up today - well don't want that getting the little guys in it. Anyway, cheap fix for $0.62 since we have a grocery that will sell by weight.

[Deerslyr]

...I'm not sure what the Co2 would do for you. ...

Am assuming that bugs haven't learned to live without oxygen. I should go into the garage today and check some of my grains

[earthtone]

Indian Meal Moth is my bet. We get em here on the east coast. They can be a real problem if you don't catch them - they get into any grains, whole or ground in flour. If they get a handhold in your house they start cocooning on the cieling and you will find wierd webby stuff in your grain bins that particles stick to. At that point I would pitch the grian due to the amount of dead moth/larva material not to mention feces. You said you didn't see any larva so the guy you saw was probably a scout, I like the C02 bombing approach. Good luck, personally I think your wife's cooking flours are in more danger than your brewing grains!:PEDIT: I think even big plastic garbage bags have a certain degree of gas permeability so keep an eye on it in case eggs survive the C02 and the oxygen levels creep back up into liveable conditions. Many insects won't hatch from eggs until conditions are optimal - ie. oxygen present.