Weevils - can I save some of my foodstuff?

Post by **hhfarang** » Tue May 19, 2009 6:24 pm

Please don't get the wrong idea MrP... not having a go at you, but "holy basil"? Has it been blessed by the Pope or something. I've never heard of that kind of basil...

Ok, before I hit submit I opened a new tab and googled it... understand now.

Is it the common basil you buy (fresh) here or do you have to get it at a special place?

http://hinduism.about.com/od/ayurveda/a ... nefits.htm

Post by **BaaBaa.** » Tue May 19, 2009 6:39 pm

hhfarang wrote:Is it the common basil you buy (fresh) here or do you have to get it at a special place?

It's the stuff you get in Pad Grapao. Grapao means basil.

Post by **Sabai Jai** » Tue May 19, 2009 9:06 pm

Cor...Better get some Holy Basil then!

Does Sweet Basil (Bhai Horapah) have similar benefits?

Regards sabai Jai

Post by **Sabai Jai** » Tue May 19, 2009 9:13 pm

Back to topic...

Used have the same problems when i lived in Ghana.

The Black Eyed Beans where always the worst - locals used the sunlight method.

For some reason the weevils always crawled up the walls and hung around just below the ceiling - even the Gecko's didn't like 'em.

The old joke of course 'Which is the Lesser of two weevils'

SJ

Post by **PeteC** » Wed May 20, 2009 5:12 am

Holy basil Batman, they even have a song about this.

(Wah-hoo)
Well the boll weevil and the little black bug
Come from a-mexico they say
Came all the way to texas
Just a-lookin' for a place to stay
Just a-lookin' for a home, just a-lookin' for a home
(doo-doo-wop-wop)
Well the first time that i seen the boll weevil
He was a-sittin' on the square
Well the next time that i seen him
He had his a-family there
Just a-lookin' for a home, just a-lookin' for a home
(doo-doo-wop-wop)
Well the farmer took the boll weevil
And he put him on the red hot sand
Well the weevil said this is a-mighty hot
But i take it like a man
This will be my home, this will be my home
Well the f armer took the boll weevil
And he put him on a keg of ice
Well the weevil said to the farmer
This is mighty cool and nice
This will be my home, this will be my home
(doo-doo-wop-wop)
Well if anybody should ask you
Who it was who sang this song
Say a guitar picker from a-oklahoma city
With a pair of blue jeans on
Just a-lookin' for a home, just a-lookin' for a home
(doo-doo-wop-wop)

Post by **margaretcarnes** » Wed May 20, 2009 6:46 am

Lomu - treat yourself to some screw top plastic containers. Cheap as chips from the Malls and kitchenware shop behind the Market. Maybe won't stop the more determined weevil but better than containers with so called 'airtight' snap lids.
And as the little blighters seem allergic to some spices could you put a little net of those spices in with other stuff? Like a bouquet garni deterent!

Post by **PeteC** » Wed May 20, 2009 6:49 am

Lomu started this thread almost a year ago. His weevils are probably on their 5th generation at least by now.

Pete

Post by **lomuamart** » Wed May 20, 2009 7:06 am

Yup. Weevil-free now. Imm deported them as they didn't have the correct visas after coming from Malaysia.

Post by **MrPlum** » Wed May 20, 2009 7:44 am

I realize this was an old thread but it didn't mention these possible solutions.

Problem with weevils is the eggs may already be inside the rice when you buy it. You could buy freeze dried packs or you could put rice that has been infested in a freezer. The cold kills adults and larvae. If you want long term storage, also use the freezer.

Herbs and essential oils are defensive measures from outside attack. Never tried other kinds of basil. I use Neem leaves with grains I've opened. Trees are everywhere. Just pick a handful and chuck them in.

Good link hhf. We grow 'Ka-phrao' and I sometimes take it as a tea and often in Thai cooking. Anything else is for another topic.

Post by **margaretcarnes** » Fri May 22, 2009 6:21 am

Unlike you Mr P I didn't realise it was an old thread! But pleased to hear that Lomus weevils have been deported.
On the subject of deterrents though - do you know of any herbs/spices that are a deterrent for ants?
These are English ants BTW. Nippon liquid gel works well for a while until they elect a new Queen, but I can't locate the nest(s) which are probably under paving outside.

Post by **PeteC** » Fri May 22, 2009 6:34 am

margaretcarnes wrote:These are English ants BTW.......

Pray tell Margaret about this species. Do they hold out their pinky when sipping tea?

Here I only use two methods as little choice. If fire ants, find the nest hole in the ground and pour boiling water down it slowly. Does in the entire population. You could try that if you find the nest outside.

If things out of control which they usually are, in come the big guns with their sprayers monthly and spray the ground around the outside perimeter of the entire house. This works and avoids the need to set traps and spray inside the house.

I'm interested in some organic suggestions also, as I don't really like the chemical approach. Pete

Post by **margaretcarnes** » Sat May 23, 2009 7:23 am

No Pete you can tell they're English ants cos they only work 8 hour shifts and half of them sit around doing nothing

Seriously though I don't really like the chemical way either. Misters with sprays sounds a bit drastic! Boiling water yes, if I can locate the nests.
But they seem strangely attracted to the bathroom, possibly to soaps etc. Seeing as the weevils can react to spices maybe the ants do as well?
Talk amongst yourselves guys until Mr P turns up.....zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Post by **PeteC** » Sat May 23, 2009 7:36 am

Maybe a silly question but has it been dry where you live lately? Our worst ant problem for the past many years has been towards the end of the dry season here where any ground water or moisture in the soil is rare. We then get them in mass in the bathrooms, around the kitchen sink etc. If there is a drop of water, they're on it. Now that the rains are more frequent, I haven't spotted an ant in the house for weeks. Pete

Post by **margaretcarnes** » Sat May 23, 2009 7:53 am

Strangely enough the ants have disappeared again recently, and we've had a lot of rain. So in dryer weather they are searching for a water source rather than food maybe?

Post by **hhfarang** » Sat May 23, 2009 10:30 am

Pete,

Were those "water ants" you talked about very tiny and move very fast? We have had problems with those too around the kitchen sink and in the bathrooms.

Pain in the butt as when you are preparing food near the sink they will go for it quickly, so it's not only water they're after. If a plate is sat nearby for a minute, they will be in it! They also go into my coffee machine and I prefer my coffee without the small bits in it even though I know it is protein.

Did you find anything effective to get rid of them before the rain started?

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