Easy Questions?

[Swatopluk]

How long can insects, specifically flour moths and their larvae, survive without air?
Would it be a way to fight this pest by simply flooding the larder with inert gas (e.g. nitrogen since this is cheapest)? Or can the tiny critters survive for hours or days (maybe on tiny pockets of remaining/residual oxygen)?

[Bob in a quantum-state-of-faith]

I would say they can survive exactly one day longer than anyone would need to keep the flour sealed away from air. 

[Sibling DavidH]

^ LOL.  This is what Sod's Law predicts.

[Griffin NoName]

^^ sounds like quantum theory to me

[Bob in a quantum-state-of-faith]

In truth, "sealed" containers seldom are.

For example, "sealed" plastic bags actually breathe a wee bit, due to miniscule flaws in the plastic film, permitting tiny amounts of gas (and water vapor) to transfer back and forth.

Once I learned of this (back when I was still making traditional pop corn, which came in plastic bags), I used to re-hydrate my popping corn in a glass jar with a real, tight-fitting lid.  The difference was astounding.

And taught me something about marketing:  Orville Reddenbocker's (a premium brand) popping corn was always sold in glass jars back then.... hmmm.  And their byline was that more of their kernals popped consistently than the other varieties.   Simply a case of how it was stored and shipped?  Likely.

But flour is even worse:  it's typically shipped and sold in paper containers, which are even worse as preventing gas transmission back and forth.

So to really test the theory, you'd need to put the flour inside a glass or metal container, with a truly air-tight lid.  Then have a way to "charge" said container with neutral gas-- but I'd simply use a vacuum pump myself, cheaper, simple and easily available.   Pump it down to 30 inches of mercury for about an hour, and you'll effectively remove all air (and most of the moisture too).  Then, if you must, you could re-introduce carbon dioxide or nitrogen.

And then... wait and see how long the flour moths and/or their eggs & larvae last.

My bet, is if you do dry it out with a vacuum?  That dryness would be the real key to destroying the eggs.   Many critters can withstand low (or no) pressure.  But few can withstand true zero humidity.

And pumping down a gallon jar for an hour, with a quality vacuum pump will do exactly that to already-pretty-dry flour:  very close to zero humidity in there.

Of course, once you open'er up?  All bets are off:  humidity is like water on the floor:  it will automatically seek low (dry) areas and re-introduce itself within seconds.   So you'd need to re-vacuum after each opening...

.... meh.

[Sibling DavidH]

It would be quicker to spread the flour out and zap the bugs with a hammer.

[Swatopluk]

Those moths are actual (reverse) Houdinis. They even get into closed metal boxes (with well-fitting lids) and closed tupperware without making holes.

[Griffin NoName]

There is always precisely one moth flying around my bedroom, which is not sealed. How is this possible?

[The Meromorph]

Over here Walmart sells a thing the size and shape of a raquetball racquet that is actually a Bug Zapper. 
It's less than $6.
It's immensely satisfying to use... 

It would take care of your serial moth(s).

[Swatopluk]

Unfortunately this thing won't work inside the larder

[Griffin NoName]

I have seen those over here, but not for years. I try and catch my moth when it flies near me.

[Sibling DavidH]

I've still got one, but I never bother with it now - too much effort to get up and chase the bug.  Cap'nB thinks it's a tennis racquet.

[Bob in a quantum-state-of-faith]

I have a cat.

Any slow-and-low-flying bug is*.... toast, within a day or so.  So I never bother... the cat will get it sooner than later.



As for fast-and-high flying bugs?  Those usually find their way outside quickly enough, all on their own.

Again, no worries.



_________

* and moths definitely count as low-and-slow.  I've never seen one move very quickly.  No wonder they are mostly food....

[Swatopluk]

The large moths tend to fly near the ceilling and both large and small ones extremly erratic making it difficult to catch them on the wing.

[Griffin NoName]

My moth flies at medium height.