Bugs!

[Zara]

Looks like a box tree moth Zara. Very pretty but not good if you have any box bushes in your garden as their caterpillars destroy them

Oh my! Thank you so much for this info. Last year I nearly lost my box in the front garden, it just survived with some spray and a cut back. It started happening again a few weeks back and I quickly treated it. A moth did fly out of it, so this could be the culprit Update: just googled it and yes, most definitely looks like a box moth, thank you.

 

[MacKyen]

Oh no! We’ve had the same. I‘m glad you’ve managed to save your hedge

 

[Maz]

I've never seen one of those before. It's very pretty But seemingly destructive! Glad we have moth expert on here!

 

[Daisy]

I just found a pantry moth larvae in my bag of mealworms. I had just given some to a gerbil and noticed one of the "worms" was moving and on closer inspection was an imposter. While I'm sure the gerbil would not have minded some extra variety with her mealworms and she certainly wasn't happy when I took them all away before she had a chance to eat any, I had to throw the whole bag away!

 

[RainbowBrite]

Oh no! Sorry to hear that Daisy but thank goodness you spotted it.

 

[Member ID2]

Glad you noticed that. Do you have to check your other food as well or was it a new bag that hadn't been around for long?

 

[Daisy]

I've had the bag for a while but I did have to throw out some ingredients from Rat Rations which were also infested the other day and might have been stored in the same box along with the mealworms at some point. I ordered new ingredients and they're currently in an airtight box until I have space to freeze them.

 

[Maz]

Moths came to mind again today - I saw a post from a German (I think) owner with extremely large tank cages - maybe 6 or 7 feet long - and about 40cm of bedding. Who gave a list of everything they spent on their hamster last month, and on the list was moth traps!

I just thought what a nightmare it must be to get a moth outbreak with cages that size and that much bedding! Fingers crossed I haven't had any issues since my last one last year (and I am thoroughly freezing all food!).