Bugs in Rabbit Selective pellets

[Zuz]

does anyone know what are the little brown flying bugs I found in Selective pellets? Are they harmful to my bunnies?

I did notice they want to eat the pellets and checked the hay several times thinking the bugs must be coming from the hay. I sealed the hay in plastic bags and the little bugs still appear. So i tipped the pellets into a bathtub and discovered the pellets are infested with the bugs.

(Edited by Wick – audio-only video link removed)

Does anyone have an experience with this.

[Wick & Fable]

I tried to salvage the video from your link, but it was audio-only, sorry!

If you suspect the bag was contaminated when you purchased it, I’d take photos and contact customer service for a refund. I would not continue feeding any pellets from this bag.

The answers provided in this discussion are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. Seek the advice of your veterinarian or a qualified behaviorist.

[GlennTheLionhead]

I have had this problem before too. About a year or so ago we bought a giant 10 kg bag of selective pellets and a few months down the line found the same issue and had to throw it all away.

I can’t remember the name of these insects but they are common pantry pests that breed like crazy and can infest your human food too if not caught quickly. Although, they are pretty harmless, and if they are indeed pantry beetles/weevils your buns should be fine but like Wick said I’d throw the food away as they will have spoiled the food with eggs, faeces etc.  It can be hard to tell if they came from the bag or just smelt the food and got in from outside but if it is a new bag of pellets they would have almost certainly came from the bag as it can take them a while to establish to the point where they are noticeable. Apparently it is also common for bags of pet food to become contaminated at the pet store and warehouse.

 

[Ellie from The Netherlands]

Yes, those are bugs that infest dry carb-rich products like rice, flour, crackers and starches. They leave very thin cobwebs in places that they infest.

They’re my worst nightmare, because I have coeliac disease and I have about €400 worth of medical food in my pantry 😯

These bugs can eat through plastic bags and may have gotten into it while being stored in a warehouse. Sadly they’re pretty common and difficult to get completely rid of. That counts for both the home and the food production/ packaging/storage industry.

As mentioned: I would indeed return these pellets. And then I’d do a thorough inspection of your kitchen, pantry and any other place where you keep dry foodstuffs. Sieve flours to check for bugs, check for cobwebs with a flashlight, and repackage things. Use plastic tubs, metal tins or glassware to store your things in, so the bugs can’t reproduce in there.

Hope this helps and that it’s not too bad yet!

[LBJ10]

Pantry moths! Also called meal moths because they infest stuff like cornmeal. They are tiny (8mm long) and they lay their eggs in starchy food stuffs. The mature larva produce silk, which is usually what people notice in the food. I would throw out the food and replace it. They could spread to other places in the house (people food) too.

[Author]

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