LifestyleIt looks dangerous. It forces its way into our homes

It looks dangerous. It forces its way into our homes

Do you have shiny mold at home? You need to be aware of this
Do you have shiny mold at home? You need to be aware of this
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10:13 AM EDT, October 7, 2023

You can most often find it in pantries and other areas where we store things like flour, grains, or groats. Should we worry about the appearance of shiny mold in our homes?

These dark brown insects can be repulsive. An adult specimen can reach a length of up to 2.75 inches! It's no wonder that many people get shivers at the sight of a glistening mold beetle. But is there anything to fear? How to get rid of this bug from the home? Here are the key details in a nutshell.

Uninvited guest. What do you need to know about the shiny mildew?

We can immediately recognize the shiny beetles due to their shell. These insects are oval, dark brown and shiny. As their habitat in our homes, they usually choose the pantry to have access to grains, flour, or cereals. Importantly, females are able to lay up to 2,000 eggs in their lifetime - most often we find them in the cracks of the floor, walls, or cupboards. The higher the temperature in the room, the faster the beetle will lay eggs.

Keep in mind that the shiny green bottle fly spreads many diseases and harmful germs to humans as well. These insects prey on dead or sick chicks, burrowing under the birds' skin. In this way, they can transmit Marek's disease and avian leukemia, Salmonella, E. Coli, and Staphylococcus. These pests eat peaches, apples, bran, tomatoes, cucumbers, bananas, pears, and flakes. Therefore, when they get into the pantry, they pose a serious threat.

How to get rid of mold from the house?

Of course, it's always better to prevent than to cure (and in this case, to struggle with getting rid of pests). If we have or want to have a backyard chicken coop, remember to use mold-resistant insulation materials for its construction. It's necessary to change the bedding in the coop as often as possible and to remove dust.

If mold mites have already nested in the chicken coop, the temperature in the room needs to be increased to 118.4 degrees Fahrenheit and maintained for 10-12 hours. Alternatively, you can try the method in the other direction and lower the temperature to 23 degrees Fahrenheit and maintain it for a week. This will cause the death of all developmental stages of the mold mite, including its adult individuals. In stores, we can also buy special insecticides.

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