Perhaps you have noticed the little black bugs in your bird seeds, and now you are curious to know what they are, what the causal agents are, and what preventive measures to take to get rid of them. You have landed yourself in the best article, which gives informative details to your question. Keep reading for more info!
The little black bugs in your birdseed may be the following:
1. Cigarette Beetle
This bug usually feasts on tobacco products but also feeds on bird seeds. They are tiny and oval in shape. Besides, they enjoy flying in low light.
Once you notice the infestation of the cigarette beetle, it is essential to dispose of the bird seeds before they attack your entire household.
2. Indian Meal Moth
You can quickly notice the presence of the Indian Meal Moth by closely looking at the fine silk webbing that the moth spreads in a feed. These moths usually fly in the dark.
These moths develop in stages where they lay eggs to produce larvae, worms with blackheads. It is essential to throw away bird seeds that are infested with Indian Meal Moths.
3. Rice Weevils
Usually, these Rice Weevils penetrate the whole grain in the larvae stage before the seeds are processed into bird food. This means that processing firms are the primary source of infestation.
You can easily use a flashlight to examine bird seeds for rice weevil infestations closely. Throw away bird seeds that are affected by rice weevils.
4. Maize Weevil
This is one of the most common pests in bird seeds. Mostly, adult weevils are black with long snouts. Usually, they infest bird seeds in processing industries and pet stores.
Once weevils contaminate your bird seeds, consider throwing the infested seeds away.
5. Ants
Ants can also infest bird seeds due to inadequate storage and seed treatment. It is, therefore, essential to obtain clean bird seeds that are well-treated to avoid infestation by bugs.
Why Are There Black Bugs in My Bird Seed?
There are black bugs in your bird seed due to the following five reasons:
1. Airful Storage of the Bird Seeds
Once you store your seeds in air-full storage like sacks and other containers, bugs are more likely to infest them as there is the presence of air that supports their existence and enough space to lay eggs, thus reproducing.
2. Old Bird Seeds
You may have old seeds in your store that you must remember. These old seeds are usually infested with evil if they are not well preserved.
3. Dirty Cage
A dirty birdcage creates a suitable environment for bug infestations. Usually, bugs can lay eggs without interference, resulting in more bugs in the cage.
4. A Dark Bird Store and Cage
Darkness creates a friendly environment for bugs. They lay eggs in the dark and become active in darkness rather than light. Therefore, ensure proper lighting in your store and bird cage.
5. Failure to Spray Your Store and Cage
Some pesticides are used to control the infestation of pests. Once you fail to spray your store and cage with pesticides, you will most likely notice an infestation of black bugs in your bird seeds.
Is It OK to Feed Birds Seed with Bugs in It?
Yes. It is OK to feed birds seed with bugs in it since some bugs, like weevils, are a source of proteins for birds, thus complementing their regular diet.
However, it would be best if you were keen enough to check whether the bird seeds have fungus or mold before feeding them to avoid contamination, which could lead to the bird’s illness.
In addition, it is vital to sometimes dispose of bird seeds infested with bugs to avoid spreading them to the whole household, which will ultimately become difficult to control.
You can also use some pesticides to control these pests.
Should I Throw Out Bird Seed with Weevils?
Yes. It is best to throw out bird seeds with weevils, especially when you notice the spread of fungus and mold, as they harm your birds.
However, if there are a minimum number of weevils, consider giving them to the birds as they are a source of proteins, thus complementing the grain diet.
How Do You Stop Seed Weevils?
You can quickly stop seed weevils by following the below eight tips:
1. Store seeds in airtight containers.
2. Purchase dry goods in smaller quantities.
3. Throw away seeds that are already infested with weevils.
4. Clean the cage and store it regularly.
5. Dispose of excess packages, like boxes.
6. Wipe the shelves.
7. Freeze grains.
8. Inspect dry goods before purchasing them.
How Do I Keep Weevils Out of My Seed?
How do you get rid of weevils from seeds? If you discover weevils in your seeds, you can easily keep them out by freezing or drying them.
To get rid of the weevils, promptly freeze your seeds. Freezing your packets for four days will help create a cold climate in which weevils will be unable to grow.
Additionally, clean and treat all empty bins prior to loading in grains.
This is how to get rid of bugs in birdseed without straining.
How Do You Know if Bird Seed Is Bad?
It is essential to offer clean and high-quality seeds to your birds to maintain a healthy state. Therefore, knowing if your bird seed is good or bad for consumption is vital.
Bad seeds are always clumpy and produce an unpleasant smell. Besides, you will notice black bug infestations, which may contaminate the birds’ seeds, leading to illness in the birds.