Or red pincered. Or antennaed. Or whatever the hell.
The suspected carpet beetles are suspects no longer. I just found a HOLE going into the last ball of wool I was spinning up. And at the bottom of the hole, one of the Little Bastards, looking fat and happy. Until I stomped him.
I've poured half a bottle of lavender oil into a ceramic diffuser and stuck it in the Yarn Pit. Later tonight after the hub's home, I'll run out and get super-sized ziploc bags for all the yarn in there. Thus far I hadn't (still haven't) seen any Little Bastards in the Yarn Pit, and was only bagging my shop stock (the bagging started more for dirt and cat hair reasons). But now? I'm not taking any chances. I attempted to estimate the value of everything in The Pit and got dizzy.
After the Goob goes to bed tonight, I get to clean the whole thing out, go over everything with a magnifying glass (probably literally in some cases), and re-pack it all. Then I'll shove all the lavender sachets that are right now stuck in the yarn, into all my woolen clothing (which is also in The Pit). There are also a couple boxes of ribbon in there... Not animal fiber, but I am trying not to imagine the stupid little fuckers wandering around THOSE boxes, too.
Damn, damn, bugger, fuck.
For now, I've torn out the funky bit in the roving and am doing my best to finish spinning it up. So it can go back into a plastic bag as yarn. All my other roving is in bags, except the carbon fiber.
I hope they try to eat the carbon fiber. Let them choke on it.
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9 comments:
Will the freezing/heating trick work with carpet beetles? Ugh, how awful. A stash infestation of any sort--good god. I feel like so much of my life energy is spent warding off critters: ants, moths, maybe-lice. Maybe I should move to one of the poles. I bet there aren't any insects there.
I've been finding little brown beetles in my kitchen the last few days. An internet search suggests they're not carpet beetle, but something called a confused flour beetle. I am however taking the same precautions you are to keep everything safe - and planning amazing amounts of laundrette trips (super big washing machines and super big driers too). Oh, and stomping. You have my complete sympathy, it's bad enough in food, but in yarn? Somehow it seems much worse:(
What a bunch of rat bastards. Good luck tonight
Oh, yuck. I can only begin to imagine how enraged you are. Plastic bags, for sure! Good luck.
I am imagining beetles with carbon fibre going in one end and out the other!!! I know it's a bit wrong but no less than the little buggers deserve!
this is why all yarn not in active use goes into clear plastic boxes as soon as it comes into my house -- unless it's from a "suspect" source -- a thrift shop, a long-ago knitter's stash, etc. then it spends time in the freezer first.
over the wkend i got the little organza bags used for wedding favors, and will stuff them with dried lavender and tuck them into the boxes soon. no, i'm not paranoid, i just love the scent.
as for flour beetles and "pantry moths," they're the reason flour, pasta, crackers, rice, mixes, etc., also serve freezer time unless they're for a meal the day they're bought. and all of those things except crackers and mixes go into jars once they get out of cold confinement.
several years ago, a pantry moth infestation required emptying the (large) pantry, scrubbing the metal shelves (including behind the metal 'lip" reinforcing each, cuz that's where the little bastards were hiding in larva form). being "lion king" fans, my dd and i referred to them as "the little cream-filled kind" as we squashed their miserable little selves.
we tossed everything that was boxed, washed all the cans and began taking the above precautions. in 3 more years there and a dozen in this house, no more "little cream-filled kind" or their winged parents.
btw, my verification word, "kiref," sounds like something one would smoke and/or drink to get over the effects of dealing w/a serious infestation.
I had the moths in the pantry, too. It cost me a week and a lot of dry goods to get rid of them. Now, everything is in containers with lids.
The yarn/fiber is unprotected. Fortunately, I love the scent of lavender. I'm off to buy some of those bags and some lavender!
Gah, I hate even the thought!
My entomology prof., who looked exactly like a preying mantis, used to say that these beetles were the main reason we weren't all chin deep in dead animal hair. Not that THAT'S any comfort.
AUUUUUUGGGGHHHHHH!!! I'm horrified for you. Bugger!
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