15 minutes ago I just opened an envelope full of WORMS and Eggs! My skin is crawling and my stomach is turning. This takes me back to this thread http://davesgarden.com/forums/t/463820/
The worst part is..I have had them for about 2 weeks. Also all my seeds are stored together. These seeds were in a 2x3 Paper (coin) envelope. I would have never even opened it. I was going to see how many there were to share with someone else. Just in my opinion..Paper does not help dry seeds..Aparently these seeds still had a lot of moisture in them. I know it was truly unintended and a mistake..But Pleassseeeeeee..I LOVE YOU ALL. ...pleaaseeee if dryness is questionable... Write in on my envelope! :-D Now I have to go through ALL my paper envelopes...or I won't be able to sleep.
Worms in Seeds Packets...
Nooo Worries ALL..I am very easy to please..and go with the flow of things...LOL. Just hoping this helps with saving and storing seeds. I'm in nooo way a pro at it. But I definitely try to get them seeds Bug Free an Dry as I can...LOL
LOL! Oh, Kim, I guess this isn't funny, but I can just see you dancing around with the heebie jeebies! You make a good point. I think all of us have received seeds that were moldy, smashed, nothing but chaff... whatever, and we just assume it's a new collector. However, if we don't tell folks, they'll never learn. ...they weren't mine, were they??? LOL!
Oh Gee, Kim. You really scared me because I use those coin envelopes. But on checking, I see I never sent you seeds. I always repack the seeds in new envelopes so I can check them. Sooooooo glad it wasn't me. LOL
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No Guessing People! I will NEVER Tell...LOL LOL..But it totally caught me off guard. Also I was in my bed...which I'll do. I'll get in the bed, prop up pillows, watch TV and play with my seeds. As I was opening the envelope the worms were coming out! I jumped out the bed! LOL LOL
Puts a whole new meaning to bed bugs, doesn't it. I've received hollyhock seeds with worms in them before. I think they may be prone to that sort of thing. Those little larve are probably a delicacy in some parts of the world... a little bedtime snack, Kim?
LOL LOL LOL
Hey, you think you are grossed out? The OTHER person had to lick that envelope. LOL
I know I sent out my share of little critters when I was new, really no guarentee it won't happen again. It is always a good idea to let someone know if seeds are REALLY fresh.
I always find bugs in my hibiscus seeds. It has nothing to do with drying them, they just like to live in them I think, dry or not.
Sandra
God , hope it wasn't me...I use those coin envelopes..if so my apologies...Janetlee
Yall are too funny! It was my first so I guess I was surprised. Never had bugs in my seeds before. Not even Hollyhocks..But now that you mention...Some are inclosed in paper..Better go get them! LOL LOL. But you should have seen these critters. I guess they multiplied with time..It was like opening a can of worms...arghhhhh
Now I'm worried...When I get seeds I just put them in a gallon zip lock baggie and store them in my frig. I've gotten several of the coin envelopes and don't open them. I'll have to check all of my seeds out! Hope those critters didn't get in the bowl of rice!!! ha-ha Just kidding.
Ewwwwwwww....OMG! See that's what grosses me. I'm surprised I get any gardening done. I hate creatures! LOL LOL LOL
Heyyyy Everone wants to know if it was them! Quit it! My seeds probably aren't Critterless..And if you got seeds from me..You're lucky if a toad doesn't POP out with all the Creatures I have in my yard. Name it..and I've seen it. Saw a Crane recently..along with the
Beavers..Possums...snakes..and other unidentified Beings! LOL LOL LOL
Maybe we should all have labels on our seeds that say 'No extra charge for the protein' LOL!
Worms and bugs have nothing to do with whether seeds are dry or not. Many critters bore into the seeds and lay their eggs. Often those eggs will hatch in transit. I love ziplocks because they're see thru and you can keep an eye on the seeds.
I've found that morning glory seeds get worms. Hibiscus, hollyhocks, and any malva as well as yuccas are often home to bore weevils. It's a great idea to collect these kinds of seeds and then pop them in the freezer for a couple of weeks to kill the insects before trading.
Bugs and worms in the garden just go with the territory.
NancyAnn
Right you are, Nancy Ann. I think that some of the pests we send along may not survive the changes in climate, but while they live indoors, the weather is hospitable for them. It's good to earmark the seeds that can be potentially infested and keep an eye on them. Those worms are probably a developmental stage for something else you might not want buzzing around your house or your garden.
Kim did you ever notice that grub is a worm, and grub is dinner... coincidence??
Ewwwwwwww Arrghhhhh Yukkkkkkk! LOL LOL LOL My kids call food Grub! LMAO Here
You can't get dinner much fresher than that!
Kim look at it this way, not everyone gets meat delivered with their flower seeds *LOL*
A few years back, I collected a large amount of Hollyhock seed and had it sitting on top of the fridge. Looked at it one day, thinking it was about time to pack them up. I had to take a double look, the container was full of those weevils. How gross, took them right away outside and dumped the whole thing. Where I dumped the container, I have the prettiest hollyhock patch now. So something good came out of that experience.
One year, I did receive hibiscus seeds upon opening the packet, weevils were in with the seeds, they went straight to the garbage.
Now, when I collect esp. hollyhock and hibiscus seeds, they spend some time in the freezer.
Skin crawling here...arghhhhh
Kim: It is quite the surprise opening up a package of seeds to see bugs moving. Odd thing is that usually, I didn't open any packets of seed that I had received in a trade. Luckily I did those.LOL..
Something (beatle-like) ate my Hyacinth beans, then chewed thier way out of the PLASTIC BAGS and I had tons of little flying critters flying around my house... I had the box of seeds next to my computer. I dumped the Hyacinth beans, I don't think any will germinate, they really ate big holes in the beans. Now my seeds stay out in the garage, I hate having them out thier but my hubby won't let me put them in the refigerator after that incident
There's also a tiny pantry moth that will eat seeds. I brought them into my house in a bag of bird seed one year...
Weevils and worms.........thank God Scorpions don't hitch rides like that! YIKES!!!! I think you've cured me of "playing seeds" in bed, Kim!
Kim, I told you these guys are edible... why else would they call 'em pantry moths!
I'm sooo pitiful now..I've been opening every paper envelope...very slowly away from my body. Almost like if a bomb will pop out..LOL LOL And you guys aren't making it any better. Now I know Bugs are in Hollyhocks!! Arggghhhhh. I will be opening the Hollyhock packs slowly..LOL LOL LOL
Kim, are you sure the package said 'hollyhock seeds'? Maybe they were well meant compost worms LOL.
I had a similar experience (bugs) not long ago. However, not wanting to run the risk of introducing a new pest into the country, I burned the whole package and alerted my trader to check her seed-stock. These things happen.
Kim, another sign of infestation is when the packets start moving around. You can whack those with a hammer and run!
OMG! I'm running for life if I see that! Forget the Hammer! Runnnnnnnnnnnn!!!!!
Kim, or anyone...
If ever you should find such valuable sources of protien in seed I have sent, please be sure to email me regarding it. I want to know of my mistakes. More importantly, I don't want that protien to go to waiste, the spirit of Dr. Atkins would haunt us forever!
Ha ha ha ha ROTFL!!!! LMBO!!!!
Kim, maybe Kayaker is hinting that you should return any worms that might inadvertently be sent to you.
That would NOT be Nice!!!! ha ha ha ha... Like the idea though! Cracking up here!
Now, if we could find some chaff eating worms, it might be worth hanging onto a few, Kim.
Nope, then we couldn't call them "bugs".....they'd actually be helpful!
Maybe there are little puffer bugs that blow chaff away!
Hmmmmm....if people can train fleas for a "circus" why not bugs to eat chaff????