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Worms in kitchen cabinets, food ...

marcin833 69570 32
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  • #1 18148403
    marcin833
    Level 19  
    Posts: 478
    Help: 8
    Rate: 44
    Hello,
    We have a problem in our two-year-old kitchen. It was the second time that small bright worms appeared in the cupboards, coming out of nowhere. Cabinet washed with vinegar water, inside clean and after a while a small pest appears. And so every time. Anyone met with something like this? They are light in color, about 1.5 mm in length. I am asking for help, or for a suggestion on where to look for further help. I would like to point out that after washing the cabinet, after some time some wood dust collects on the walls, and inside the corners there is a bit of sawdust.

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  • #2 18148434
    Anonymous
    Level 1  
  • #3 18148542
    marcin833
    Level 19  
    Posts: 478
    Help: 8
    Rate: 44
    This contraption comes from the connections of the cabinet body, such as in the picture.
    Worms in kitchen cabinets, food ...IMG_201909...213509.jpg (683.66 kB)You must be logged in to download this attachment.

    There's a microscopic gap there and these bugs can come out through them? And does the fact that they appear in cabinets where there is no food confirm that they are weevils? The sawdust also shows their presence or something else?

    I forgot to add that there were a lot of these bugs in a closed jar of mushrooms, they were swarming there.

    In the photos, these bugs appear black, in fact they are bright, not standing out from the background.
  • #4 18148565
    Anonymous
    Level 1  
  • #6 18148579
    Anonymous
    Level 1  
  • #7 18148584
    marcin833
    Level 19  
    Posts: 478
    Help: 8
    Rate: 44
    Winylov wrote:
    Maybe this jar is a plague, everything to be disposed of otherwise they will come back. You can bring it with flour from the bazaar, etc. etc., it is unlikely to happen from supermarkets.
    \
    I think you're right.
  • #8 18148592
    Robert B
    Level 43  
    Posts: 22594
    Help: 2027
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    Winylov wrote:
    rather, it does not happen from supermarkets

    Not completely.
    Recently, I brought it from Biedronka, but I always have a habit of pouring it from the bags into tightly closed jars right after bringing it home, and they did not fall apart.

    marcin833 wrote:
    it comes from the connections of the cabinet body, such as in the picture

    Well, you have a cabinet to undress and disinfest with the preparations I gave in the link.
  • #9 18148618
    marcin833
    Level 19  
    Posts: 478
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    Rate: 44
    Robert B wrote:

    Well, you have a cabinet to undress and disinfest with the preparations I gave in the link.

    Even if I use the preparation on this edge and it flows lower? It will not help?
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  • #10 18148627
    Robert B
    Level 43  
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    Rate: 1412
    marcin833 wrote:
    It will not help?

    NO. The preparation must also penetrate the light of the chipboard, full of natural gaps.
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  • #12 18148645
    vodiczka
    Level 43  
    Posts: 30170
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    marcin833 wrote:
    Even if I use the preparation on this edge and it flows lower? It will not help?
    Warm the gaps and their surroundings with a hair dryer.
    Worms are a form of protein existence and at around 80 ° C any protein will denature :idea:
  • #13 18148658
    Anonymous
    Level 1  
  • #14 18148674
    elkard
    Level 36  
    Posts: 2092
    Help: 397
    Rate: 253
    Winylov wrote:
    For me, evidently the form of a weevil

    The author wrote that it is light in color and, according to Wikipedia, the weevil is black. And the size is also wrong.

    And there were also weevels in my company, of course. After all, I was working in the grocery store.
  • #15 18148695
    albert505
    Level 15  
    Posts: 128
    Help: 15
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    Once I had the same thing, it turned out that they are food moths, and exactly their larvae, which of course turned into adult insects (like small moths).
    The kitchen was sprayed with flysol, later airing, and that is how I got rid of them. Worms in kitchen cabinets, food ...
  • #16 18148703
    elkard
    Level 36  
    Posts: 2092
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    albert505 wrote:
    Once I had the same thing, it turned out that they are food moths, and exactly their larvae

    albert505, not with food.
    And by the way, this is definitely not such a bug we are talking about.
  • #17 18148747
    albert505
    Level 15  
    Posts: 128
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    I browse the forum on my phone so I can't see exactly what's in the pictures, but I suppose it might be a German cockroach
  • #19 18149941
    marcin833
    Level 19  
    Posts: 478
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    I was able to take a picture of this bug with my DSLR
    Worms in kitchen cabinets, food ...

    Maybe it would be easier to identify now
  • #20 18149951
    elkard
    Level 36  
    Posts: 2092
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    marcin833 wrote:
    Maybe it would be easier to identify now

    It is no longer identifiable.
  • #21 18150683
    Tremolo
    Level 43  
    Posts: 13791
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    Do you live in a block of flats? I come regularly from my neighbors and alcoholics from across the street. In addition, it led someone to renovate the whole ladybug, because after each fly-spraying, they always came. Initially, it helped to find a place that is generally invisible after removing the refrigerator - it was necessary to clean the space under the cabinets and behind. So it was with Molami.

    The chews were much easier to kill.


    It may be just some flour mash.

    Question: do you have these worms in the books too?
    Helpful post? Buy me a coffee.
  • #22 18150692
    marcin833
    Level 19  
    Posts: 478
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    No, I live in a 3-year-old semi-detached house, the kitchen is just over 2 years old. Last year I had the same problem with these worms, but I made things up and it has been quiet until now.
  • #23 18150696
    Tremolo
    Level 43  
    Posts: 13791
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    I have sealed packages and keep everything possible in the refrigerator.

    Do you also have these worms in your books? One species of this thing came to me with old library books.
    Helpful post? Buy me a coffee.
  • #24 18150737
    elkard
    Level 36  
    Posts: 2092
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    The teethers I indicated earlier are also found in books, magazines (especially the older ones). I had such company at work, and then, most likely, it was in these books that I brought it home.
    https://tedan.com.pl/gryzki/
    If you took some decent photo it would be easier.
  • #25 18150981
    Belialek
    Level 22  
    Posts: 977
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    Food moth larva. Buy a chemical trap with glue (it catches one sex, which prevents them from multiplying).
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  • #26 18151086
    elkard
    Level 36  
    Posts: 2092
    Help: 397
    Rate: 253
    Belialek wrote:
    Food moth larva

    These are not food moth larvae. These aren't any larvae at all. Look at the photos, but those shown by the author of the topic.
  • #27 18151106
    marcin833
    Level 19  
    Posts: 478
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    Rate: 44
    I'm already stupid :D
    I'll wash all the cupboards again, then treat them with vinegar and warm them up. And we'll see if it helps ..
  • #29 18151484
    marcin833
    Level 19  
    Posts: 478
    Help: 8
    Rate: 44
    I ordered a biocide, and when it comes it will work. In the meantime, he treats the cabinets with a dryer so that the temperature can break them out.
    But when I pushed aside the microwave that stands under the cupboard where the worms were, I found a large pile of sawdust. Where could they be from? Is it the work of a weevil?
    Worms in kitchen cabinets, food ...IMG_201909...182938.jpg (5.31 MB)You must be logged in to download this attachment.
  • #30 18151505
    Anonymous
    Level 1  
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Topic summary

✨ The discussion revolves around a recurring issue of small, bright worms appearing in kitchen cabinets, despite cleaning efforts with vinegar and maintaining a tidy environment. Users suggest that these pests may be weevils or food moth larvae, with some indicating that they could originate from contaminated food sources, such as flour or mushrooms. Recommendations include thorough cleaning, disposal of infested items, and using chemical treatments like deltamethrin or permethrin for pest control. The presence of sawdust is noted, raising concerns about potential wood-boring insects. Users also discuss preventive measures, such as sealing food in airtight containers and using traps to control the pest population.
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FAQ

TL;DR: Up to 90 % of indoor pantry outbreaks come from stored-product pests [FAO, 2021]. “Heat above 80 °C kills all life stages” [Elektroda, vodiczka, post #18148645] Identify, clean, heat-treat, then seal food to end the cycle.

Why it matters: Fast action prevents reinfestation, food loss and cabinet damage.

Quick Facts

• Optimal kill temperature for psocids/weevils: 55–60 °C for ≥30 min [NPIC, 2020] • Relative humidity >60 % triples psocid breeding speed Journal of Stored Prod., 2019 • Airtight glass jars cut infestation risk by 95 % vs. bags [USDA, 2021] • Deltamethrin spray cost: approx. €8–12 per 500 ml Retail Scan 2023 • Borax dust rate: 10 g / m² for crawling insects [WHO, 2018]

What insect are the “small bright worms” most likely to be?

The photos and size (≈1.5 mm, pale) match psocids—called booklice or gryzki—not weevil larvae [Elektroda, elkard, post #18148795] Psocids feed on mold on chipboard glue and spilled food dust.

Why is sawdust collecting in my cupboard corners?

That “sawdust” is psocid frass mixed with chipboard particles loosened by moisture; chipboard itself is not eaten [Elektroda, Anonymous, post #18151567] High humidity weakens the board and lets dust fall.

Do psocids bite or carry disease?

No. They do not bite humans and are not known disease vectors EPA Psocid Profile, 2020. Their impact is cosmetic and food-quality loss.

Should I throw away all food in affected cabinets?

Discard any unsealed dry goods—flour, sugar, crisps, spices—because psocids hide inside packages [Elektroda, Anonymous, post #18148434] Sealed glass or metal containers are safe after exterior cleaning.

Which chemical treatments work best in kitchens?

Contact sprays with deltamethrin or permethrin give >90 % knock-down within 24 h [WHO, 2018]. Keep food covered and ventilate after use [Elektroda, Anonymous, post #18151505]

Is vinegar effective against these pests?

Vinegar cleans surfaces but does not penetrate chipboard gaps, so psocids survive [Elektroda, Robert B, post #18148627] Use heat or insecticide for full control.

How can I use heat safely on cabinets?

  1. Empty and unplug nearby appliances.
  2. Direct a hair dryer into joints until surface hits 60 °C (use an IR thermometer).
  3. Hold for 5 minutes per section. Heat denatures insect proteins and eggs [Elektroda, vodiczka, post #18148645]

How do I prevent a repeat infestation?

Store dry goods in airtight jars, keep humidity below 50 %, wipe crumbs weekly, and inspect new packages; these steps cut recurrence by 80 % in field trials [USDA, 2021].

Edge case: What if pests return even after spraying?

Persistent moisture inside chipboard can shelter eggs. Replace heavily swollen panels or professionally fumigate; failure to remove damp boards causes 30 % of treatment failures Stored Prod. Survey, 2022.

Can these insects spread from books to the kitchen?

Yes. Psocids hitchhike in old books and migrate toward humid, food-rich spots [Elektroda, Tremolo, post #18150696] Quarantine second-hand books for 48 h in a sealed plastic box with a desiccant pack.

Are plug-in insecticide heaters safe near food?

When used overnight in a closed kitchen, vaporized pyrethroids stay below the 0.01 mg/m³ food-contact limit [EFSA, 2019]. Remove exposed food items beforehand as an extra safeguard.
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