An unclean kitchen is like a neon vacant sign beaconing insects to come inside. Kitchens can attract many types of insects and mites. One of the most common kitchen mites are Flour Mites and Flour Weevils.
Flour Mites are tiny white bugs with brown legs and they are almost invisible to the naked and untrained eye. They are also called grain mites. Usually, they are around 0.5 mm in length.
Flour Weevils are beetle-like insects with dark brown in colour, they are bigger than flour mites and are easier to spot in flour due to their darker colour. Flour Weevils are around 4-10mm in length.
Flour Mites or Flour Weevils can come into the house in cheaper flour or wheat starches and only a few of these bugs can cause infestation as they can lay many eggs and spawn a large number of bugs. Especially considering wheat flour or wheat grains are stored for a larger period of time, that gives these bugs an opportunity to grow in number unnoticed.
As we mentioned, flour mites are very difficult to spot owing to their small size and white colour, but there are a few ways to detect them. One way is to take a pinch of flour, rub it between your fingers and smell if, if it smells minty it may indicate flour mites’ infestation. Another way is to spread some flour on your countertop, preferably in direct sunlight. The sunlight will cause the mites and weevils to move in the shade and you can spot them.
As they can easily multiply and grow in numbers you can rest easy knowing that Flour Mites do not bite, neither are they poisonous even if you eat a few of them with your cereal they do not pose any harm. Flour Weevils do not bite either and are also not poisonous but can cause fungal growth.
Even if they are not that harmful, we are sure that you do not want them living in your food. Here is what you can do, pesticide is obviously out of the question as these pests are living in your food, however you can get rid of the contaminated food, it will cost you a few boxes of food and a few bucks but you can rest easy.
To avoid these pests, try to buy from premium sources and keep your pantry clean and dry.