Have just found some little beetles in my jar of beautiful dried borlotti beans - yuk!
What are they, can I still use the beans and how can I stop this happening next year?
probably bean weevil.
Inspect beans before you put them into store .. keep in airtight jar .. preferably in a cool / cold place (some people keep them refrigerated). We try to eat them before end January.
Look on the web for info .. here is one example .. there are others
http://www.pestcontrolsydney.com.au/insects/Seed%20Weevils,%20HYG-2085-97.htm (http://www.pestcontrolsydney.com.au/insects/Seed%20Weevils,%20HYG-2085-97.htm)
I had an outbreak in mine (Borlotti)... so quarantined all my pea and bean collection. You can chill them... a week or two in the fridge should do it... I had to ask HDRA HSL...
:-[
if they don't like cold, try a couple of days in the freezer. It kiils wax moth very effectively.
Is it worth putting the good ones - those with no holes - in the freezer, or best just to ditch the lot?
Will definitely chill next years straight away!!!
Chill those with no holes... unless the larvae have eaten the growing point they will be OK...
:)
Thanks everyone.
I will check through and chill enough to grow for this coming year and then keep them in the fridge and eat them up quickly!
Just to add my 2p! put bay leaves in pantry dried food, cous cous, rice, nuts, beans etcthe smell repels ......