Estimated reading time: 4 minutes
Latin: Acarus Siro
Flour mites is one of the most well-known mite among Danes. We have all been afraid to find this pest in our flour or grain products, however in small numbers, this little mite is not that dangerous. It is only when they occur in larger numbers that one should be careful.
Appearance
Flour mites are almost a microscopic, small animal. The largest flour mites we have been able to observe were just 0.5 mm long. At this size, you can only just see them with the naked eye. And the average size is of course even smaller.
Flour mites have a whitish color. They are ovoid and slightly broad. They have eight relatively long, strong legs, which allow them to move around in the environment, in which the located in.
Biology and behavior
Flour mites are one of the most common mites, and many people will at some point ingest them. They live in flour, but you can also find them in dust, grains, seeds, hay, and straw. They feed on fungi, which is formed when moisture occurs in flour or grain products. Therefore, in nature, they can also live by eating fungal growth, which decomposes organic material.
Damage
Flour mites are only really a problem when they occur in larger numbers. They can be dangerous to ingest and inhale. If one repeatedly inhales air containing flour mites, one can develop asthma. If you are already reacting to house dust mites, you can also react to flour mites.
There will almost always be a few flour mites in one’s flour, and it is not dangerous to eat a few by accident. It is only when it comes to an actual infestation of flour mites that it can become a problem. A sign that you have eaten a lot of flour mites is a diarrhea.
Pets can also react to flour mites. If the flour mites have infected their dry food, they can be weaken and, in the worst-case scenario die.
Prevention and control
Flour mites multiply surprisingly and inconveniently quickly. Therefore, it is important to take prompt action if you suspect flour mites. The best method of both prevention and control is by making sure to keep the humidity is as low as possible. If possible, the relative humidity in your kitchen should be 65% or less. You can also focus on keeping the water content in your flour less than 13%, then the flour mites will die.
If you have found flour mites in flour or grain, you should immediately dispose of the infected goods. Afterwards you should vacuum thoroughly where the flour or grain have been stored. Avoid cleaning with water, as a damp stain can keep the flour mites alive until you have purchased new flour.Also try to keep the humidity down in the kitchen cabinets and the kitchen in general.
Detection of flour mites
There are two ways to detect flour mites in your food. The first is simply to look for them. If there are enough flour mites in your flour or grains for you to see them with the naked eye, immediately discard everything in the container.
Flour mites come in flour and grains if they have been stored in a moist area. As mentioned, the flour mites do not eat the flour or grains, but the fungus that grows on these dry goods. If you have left flour or grains in a humid environment for a long time, check it for flour mites. If you do not see any mites right away, you should still check. This can be done by pouring some of the flour into a clear drinking glass so that there are a few inches left at the top of the glass. Tap the glass on the side with a spoon so that the flour settles. If there are flour mites, you will be able to see them after 15 minutes, where you will observe them climbing up the sides of the glass. You can also see smaller passages that the flour mites have dug into the flour, through the glass.
"Pests in House and Home"
"Bed Bugs - Bites, Stings and Itches"
"Food Pests"
"Husets dyreliv" (Insects Around the House - Only danish)
"Skadedyr i træ" (Timber Pests - Only danish)
"Stuefluen" (Common Housefly - Only danish)
Last review of this article was on 11. June 2022 by:
