BUG HELL....Help!

[jojackson]

Walked in to check on things tonight, went to check the super breeding tub (first few beetles present), discovered a nightmare!
All over the table I keep the tub on, were thousands of almost microscopic white mite like things. ACK!
I know they arnt reptile mites, Never had any, no new arrivals and I quarantine to point of paranoia. They were coming from the bran in the breeder tub.

Im gussing some kind of weevil or flour mites. Anyway, I had to go all out to get rid of them, this meant retreiving the beetles and pupae, and tossing out absolutely everything, and starting a fresh tub. Sprayed the table and surrounds with herp safe reptile mite spray (i keep it for wild rescues).
Hopefully I got them all, was a two hours job to be totally thourough.

Finished by giving the vacume cleaner a great workout too.
Anyone experienced similar with store bought bran etc. This horrible stuff was actually from the supermarket for human consumption!
Im thinking they were dormant in the bran and the heat and moisture from
carrot etc caused them to hatch.

If it happens again, Im throwing out the lot, and Ill thats it. Still have unaffected pupae turning, so I could start anew, but is there anyway to make sure the media contains nothing like this?
If you roastit in the oven or something, can the worms still eat it?

Better still, could you raise the worms in something non edible (ish) like sphagum moss, and just add the moisture veg and food in a bowl?
Maybe its possible to do that with the breeding tub pupae/beetles aswell?

 

[Jakedn]

Out of curiosity, I did a bit of research to see if I could find an answer for you. I have not been able to find anywhere that states that you could using something like moss as bedding. But on the forums I did find something that Dave Weldon said that could probably help you out a bit.

https://www.chameleonforums.com/mites-roaches-13923/index2.html#post114595

Theres the link for you, hope it helps.

 

[Eric Adrignola]

try cooking the bran next time. Only way to be sure...

 

[Chameleons Northwest]

Any humidity in a grain container can produce these horrible things. The bane of reptile keepers!

I have raised superworms in peatmoss. They get veggies laid on the top (which they quickly pull under) and also I toss in a handful of my gutload on the dry side of the container. My superworm containers have screen tops to let moisture out.

 

[jojackson]

Thanks guys, first time ive exp this, ever! Yes, Im still itching too! Daves idea sounds good. (thanks jakedn ) Eric if I cook the bran, will the worms still eat it though?
I though a good hot dry roast in the oven might work?
The tubs do have screen tops though, so these little bastards must hatch with very little humidity.
This has to be right up there with reptile mite as the worst part of herp keeping.

 

[cushcameleon]

My super worm bran always began to mold and it stunk to high hell, part of the reason why I gave up on them for the time being.

 

[Jakedn]

Thanks guys, first time ive exp this, ever! Yes, Im still itching too! Daves idea sounds good. (thanks jakedn ) Eric if I cook the bran, will the worms still eat it though?
I though a good hot dry roast in the oven might work?
The tubs do have screen tops though, so these little bastards must hatch with very little humidity.
This has to be right up there with reptile mite as the worst part of herp keeping.

No problem man, just glad to be able to help out.

 

[panthercrazy]

I know the bug suppliers within Alberta all keep their superworms in good old dirt ( a little moist but not to point of molding). I never agreed with this, as this is how they'd ship to stores & the worms would be sold. How good of a gut load is dirt??
My supplier ships with potato and then I put them in bran. I've never had a problem with anything like that though
I guess you could try the dirt and give them food in a dish??

 

[Goggles]

JJ I had the same thing happen with about 800 crix 2 weeks ago.
Little suckers were everywhere!!! They are grain mites.
Girlfriend was freakin

 

[jojackson]

Wasnt planning on dirt Panther, I was vaguely considering dried sphagum moss, with moist stuff being in a bowl, but not sure how that would work with the egg laying for the beetles.
Googles, bad aint it, I never had the misfortune before, certainly never with crix or roaches, here there is no substrate used, just bare tub and eggcrate.

 

[Pure]

Are there any negatives to using oatmeal?

 

[Goggles]

I tried a new supplier for cricket food(like chicken mash) so I'm guessing that is where they came from but the only thing moist besides carrot was some dandelion leaves. Couldn't get a good count but there were millions
Washed tub in javex and water and have had no problems since.
Mind you the guys in the hasmat suits freaked the neighbors out
The tub was in a spare room where the girlfriend keeps her clothes. That room and her clothes are now the cleanest stuff in the house. She went on a two day disenfecting spree
Terry

 

[hallenhe]

I don't see why you couldn't bake the bran. We have recurrent grain moths and will freeze anything we find them in to kill the bugs so they don't spread to other food sources; freezing your bran (I'd try several days) should kill the unwanted beasties while leaving the bran nutritionally the same for your supers.

 

[jojackson]

Hallenhe, freezing may work, but then you have to ensure theres no moisture from freezing them, so you'd have to sun dry them, but that leaves them exposed to infestation, so the oven may be the way to go afterall ?
What really peeves me off is that the stuff is intended for human consumption, not that I ever intended to eat it, but all the same! Makes you wonder we eat without having a clue, fresh from the supermarket.
Try not to think about it when you sit downto breakfast!

 

[Dunnigan]

Have you ever left spaghetti in the cabinets for a while? Little bugs come out of it as well...

I vote bake. That should kill anything. Or try a different brand.

 

[sandrachameleon]

There's bugs in EVERYTHING. You will not rid yourself of them.

However it is very likely that you had too much moisture in the container, resulting in the grain mites. Dont leave any fruit or veg in the container longer than a few hours, and make sure the bran stays dry.

 

[jojackson]

What do you provide for egg laying for the beetles Sandra? Need some moisture?

So far so good, no returns I can find, perhaps I caught it early?
Few more beetles appearing so fingers x'd, all goes ok from here. Keeping tubs bone dry excepting carrot sliced in half long wise, wet side up and on top. Tub is screen top, well ventilated. Inspecting regularly for presence of any mite.