Kamil Perry
Cheese skippers, also known as cheese flies, are a pest found all over the world. They are a particular problem in food warehouses and processing facilities, where they can infest cured ham products or mouldy cheese. The cheese skipper feeds on meat and cheese, and its larvae can cause intestinal irritation in humans if consumed. To prevent a cheese skipper infestation, it is important to maintain good sanitation and store meat and cheese products properly. Surfaces should be cleaned with hot soapy water to remove all grease, crumbs, or food scraps, and any cracks or crevices should be sealed to keep the flies out.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Size | 3/16 inch or 3-4 mm long |
| Color | Black, shiny, with bronze tints |
| Eyes | Reddish-brown |
| Wings | Slightly iridescent and held flat over the body when at rest |
| Body Movement | Sudden, snapping movements that may cause them to jump or "skip" as much as 10 inches |
| Diet | Meats and cheeses, cadavers, fungus, dried bones |
| Breeding Source | Moist, trapped grease, or food in cracks of equipment |
| Larvae Behavior | Avoid light, burrow into breeding material, complete development in about 5 days |
| Adult Fly Behavior | Feed on juices from breeding sources, live a short time to mate and lay eggs |
| Egg Laying Sites | Surface of moldy cheese or putrid meat, cured meat wrappers |
| Sanitation | Clean surfaces, seal cracks and crevices, vacuum, proper food storage |
| Prevention | Wire screens with 24 mesh per inch, fogging with pyrethrin compounds |
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What You'll Learn
- Sanitation is key: clean all surfaces and seal cracks and crevices
- Properly store meat and cheese to prevent infestations
- Use pyrethrin compounds or handheld space pyrethrins to kill adults
- Use a wire screen to keep flies out of rooms and receptacles
- Inspect for skipper larvae in damp, mouldy food sources
Sanitation is key: clean all surfaces and seal cracks and crevices
Sanitation is key when it comes to preventing and controlling cheese skipper infestations. Cheese skippers are attracted to crumbs, grease, and scraps of meat and cheese. To prevent an infestation, all surfaces in storage and processing areas should be thoroughly cleaned to remove any potential food sources for cheese skippers. This includes removing grease, which can be done using hot soapy water.
Vacuuming is also an effective way to ensure that all hidden pieces of food are removed from hard-to-reach places. Using a crack and crevice tool attachment on a vacuum cleaner can help to reach these areas. This is an important step, as cheese skippers may be found in the trapped grease or food in the cracks of equipment.
After cleaning, it is important to seal any cracks and crevices to prevent cheese skippers from entering and laying their eggs. Cheese skippers lay their eggs on the surface of moldy cheese or putrid meat, so it is important to prevent them from accessing these food sources.
In addition to cleaning and sealing, proper storage of meat and cheese products is crucial for preventing cheese skipper infestations. Hams, for example, can be protected by storing them in linen bags. Rooms where food is stored or processed can also be protected by using wire screens with 24 mesh per inch to keep cheese skippers out.
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Properly store meat and cheese to prevent infestations
Cheese skippers, also known as Piophila casei, are a species of fly whose larvae infest cured meats, smoked or salted fish, cheeses, and carrion. The adult female cheese skipper lays her eggs on the surface of moldy or putrid meat or cheese. The larvae then burrow into the food, causing internal irritation if eaten.
To prevent infestations, it is important to properly store meat and cheese. Here are some tips to prevent infestations and ensure food safety:
- Keep your refrigerator at around 34°F (1.1°C) to effectively prolong the shelf life of foods.
- Store all raw meat, seafood, and poultry on the lowest level of your fridge with a paper towel underneath to prevent raw meat liquid from contaminating other food.
- Raw ground meat generally keeps well for 1-2 days, while roasts and steaks are safe for 3-5 days.
- Wrap soft or hard cheese in parchment or wax paper, followed by a loose layer of foil or plastic, or vacuum seal.
- If freezing meat, wrap it twice in heavy-duty aluminum foil, plastic wrap, or freezer paper, or keep it in its original package inside a plastic freezer bag.
- Meat should be stored in a cool (55°F to 60°F if possible) and dry area to slow the development of pests.
- Sanitation is key. Keep the storage area clean and pest-free. Regularly inspect meat and cheese for any signs of pests.
- Use a meat thermometer to check the temperature of cooked meat. Poultry should be cooked to 165°F (73.9°C), while ground meats like beef, pork, and lamb should be cooked to 160°F (71.1°C).
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Use pyrethrin compounds or handheld space pyrethrins to kill adults
Pyrethrins are a group of six toxic chemicals that occur naturally in some chrysanthemum flowers, such as marigolds and painted daisies. They are commonly used to control mosquitoes, fleas, flies, moths, ants, and other pests. Pyrethrins are effective insecticides that target the nervous system of insects, leading to paralysis and death. They are considered relatively safe for humans and pets, with low toxicity, but can cause minor side effects such as headaches, nausea, and respiratory issues.
To use pyrethrins to kill adult cheese skippers, you can employ fogging with pyrethrin compounds or handheld space pyrethrins. This method will help to eliminate the adult flies that feed on the juices from breeding sources, such as moist, mouldy cheese or putrid meat.
It is important to note that while pyrethrins are effective against exposed flying or crawling insects, they cannot easily penetrate equipment or palletized products. Therefore, it is crucial to combine this treatment with thorough sanitation and cleaning to prevent and control cheese skipper infestations.
Additionally, pyrethrins can adversely affect non-target beneficial insects, such as bees, so careful application is necessary. They are also extremely toxic to aquatic life, so caution must be exercised when using them near bodies of water.
By following these instructions and being mindful of potential risks, pyrethrin compounds can be an effective tool in controlling adult cheese skipper populations.
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Use a wire screen to keep flies out of rooms and receptacles
To prevent a cheese skipper infestation, it is important to maintain good sanitation and keep flies out of rooms and receptacles. One effective way to do this is by installing wire screens on windows and doors. Make sure the wire screen has a fine mesh—around 24 mesh per inch—to prevent even small flies from entering.
Thoroughly screen all openings and ventilators to ensure that cheese skippers cannot enter the storeroom. This is especially important in food storage and processing areas, where cheese skippers are more likely to find breeding sources. Keep in mind that cheese skippers are attracted to moist, decaying organic matter, so it is crucial to maintain clean, dry environments.
In addition to screening, proper food storage practices are essential. Store hams and other meats in linen bags, and ensure that all meat and cheese products are properly packaged and sealed. This will not only prevent cheese skippers from laying eggs on the food surfaces but also stop the larvae from burrowing into the food.
By combining wire screens with good sanitation and proper food storage, you can effectively keep cheese skipper flies out of rooms and receptacles and reduce the risk of infestation.
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Inspect for skipper larvae in damp, mouldy food sources
Inspecting for skipper larvae in damp, mouldy food sources is a critical step in preventing a Cheese Skipper infestation. These larvae are known to infest cured meats, smoked or salted fish, cheeses, and other damp, mouldy foods. They are particularly attracted to moist sources of meat and cheese, especially mouldy foods.
To inspect for skipper larvae, start by identifying potential breeding sources. Cheese Skipper breeding sources must be moist and can include trapped grease or food in cracks and crevices of equipment, as well as decayed food in warehouses or other storage facilities. Look for any signs of mould or dampness on food sources, as this indicates a potential breeding ground for the larvae.
When inspecting food sources, pay close attention to details. The larvae themselves are small and difficult to detect, but there may be other signs of their presence. Look for any signs of burrowing or small holes in the food, which could indicate the presence of larvae. The larvae will also leave the breeding material once they have matured, so look for any signs of their presence nearby, such as shed skins or small, dark, dry areas where they may have pupated.
In addition to visual inspection, sanitation is crucial. Regularly clean all surfaces and equipment with hot soapy water to remove any grease, crumbs, or food scraps that could attract Cheese Skippers. Use a crack and crevice tool on a vacuum cleaner to reach tight spaces and ensure no hidden pieces of food are left behind. Sealing cracks and crevices can also help prevent skipper larvae from accessing these areas.
Finally, consider using wire screens with a fine mesh to cover food sources or storage areas. This can help keep the flies out and prevent them from laying eggs on the food. Additionally, certain plant essential oils, such as Mentha canadensis, can be used to prevent larval growth and infestation.
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Frequently asked questions
Sanitation is key to preventing a cheese skipper infestation. Clean all surfaces with hot soapy water to remove all grease, crumbs, meat, and cheese scraps. Seal cracks and crevices to keep the flies out.
Cheese skippers are attracted to moist, decaying organic matter, so you may find trapped grease or food in the cracks of equipment. The adult flies are small (3-5mm) and shiny black with reddish-brown eyes and iridescent wings held flat over the body. They have a distinctive skipping movement, jumping up to 10 inches.
To get rid of an active infestation, you can use fogging with pyrethrin compounds or handheld space pyrethrins to kill the adult flies. You should also locate and remove any infested food sources, such as mouldy cheese or putrid meat.
To prevent reinfestation, proper storage of meat and cheese products is crucial. Hams can be protected by storing them in linen bags. You can also use wire screens to keep the flies out of rooms or receptacles.
