How do I tell if I have a food pest infestaiont?

I am packing to move and had two moths fly out of one of the boxes. I caught one but the other escaped me. They were both small moths, about the size of my baby finger nail. What steps should I take to prevent an infestation???



I'm glad to see you caught one of the moths. Trying to pack those moths is like trying to herd cats, isn't it? But thats the joy of owning moths. If you owned ladybugs, well thats a different kettle of fish. And when fish escape... wowee, not a pretty sight at all. All that flopping around? Exhausting I tell you. Last time my fish escaped I swear I pulled my back out trying to flop around and convince the fish to hop back in its bowl and quit playing silly buggers. But I digress... and if I continue to digress you'll lose that poor moth.
Okay, Moth catching 101.

If you are still packing, thats great. Moths love packing peanuts. Just scatter the packing peanuts around along with empty boxes and the missing moth will return in approximately 15 minutes. Maybe 35 minutes if the peanuts are green. The green packing peanuts confuse the moth and it may instead look for a syrofoam cup. Bubble paper is good to have on hand too. Popping those bubbles is a fabulous way to pass the time while waiting for the moth to come back. And with all the bubbles popped you can fit more glassware in the cardboard box. The bubbles always take up so much room and we all know that the more you can cram into a cardboard box, the less time it takes to move.

If you are done packing, don't worry, you just need to unpack one box. No, not the one that held the flattened bubbles and the glassware. The shards of glass sparkle too brightly in the sun and will just confuse the poor moth. It will never be drawn to candles again and will require years of therapy. Leave the cardboard box open for 24 hours. If the moth hasn't returned by then, you may want to consider posting leaflets around the neighborhood including a map to the new house. Moths are smart (hey, it escaped didn't it!) and it will find it's way to your new home.

Just leave a candle burning and the moth will come zipping home almost as if compelled.