Apr 10, 2012 – Old Bait, Now Food
QUESTION:
Can an old and excessive amount of granular bait in a attic (possibly at least 14 years old and maybe Baygon) become a food source for Indian Meal Moths?
ANSWER:
This would not surprise me at all, even though at one time it was a bait that would kill insects that ate it. Propoxur (in Baygon) is a relatively stable molecule as a Carbamate, but granular products do degrade over time, and it would seem likely to me that after possibly 14 years the active ingredient would have degraded to a point low enough not to be able to kill insects any longer. The bait constituent of granular baits will probably be some kind of grain-based product and since the IMM will eat just about anything that bait could be attractive to them.
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Can an old and excessive amount of granular bait in a attic (possibly at least 14 years old and maybe Baygon) become a food source for Indian Meal Moths?
ANSWER:
This would not surprise me at all, even though at one time it was a bait that would kill insects that ate it. Propoxur (in Baygon) is a relatively stable molecule as a Carbamate, but granular products do degrade over time, and it would seem likely to me that after possibly 14 years the active ingredient would have degraded to a point low enough not to be able to kill insects any longer. The bait constituent of granular baits will probably be some kind of grain-based product and since the IMM will eat just about anything that bait could be attractive to them.
So, I am not saying that absolutely the active ingredient is gone, but after that long it would seem likely to be present at an awfully low level. Regardless though, this kind of old bait that I assume must be piled up in this attic should be removed and disposed of properly. It is unlikely that we have an old Baygon Bait label on PestWeb any longer, but you should be able to find one on the internet and read the instructions for disposal of uneaten or spoiled bait. Hopefully it can be disposed of in a garbage can or by burying rather than through a toxic waste process.
You do point out the important first step in control of any stored food products pest, and that is to discover just where they are coming from. Focusing on the adult moths for control is not going to affect the larvae, and they will quickly mature to new adult moths. Old rodent bait, forgotten pet foods, nuts and other foods stored out in the garage, dried flower arrangements, forgotten food packages in the kitchen cupboards, and pet foods cached in wall voids by rodents are all wonderful sources of food for the IMM and other moth and beetle pests. The IMM may be the most diverse in its food selections. If you suspect some old insect bait that you have found you should easily see the larvae or evidence of them on the bait. They spin lots of silk webbing over the food and this will be evident.
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