Received: Bugs

I just received a generous supply of seeds from a well-intentioned trader and they were loaded with grayish crawling bugs (23 big ones and babies), I think aphids. While I can see a bug or two getting by, an infestation is not acceptable when trading seeds. Please check your seeds before sending them out, especially now when bugs want a warm and inviting home.
Trish

Bummer....

"eyes'

How would aphid get in seeds???

I had some seeds that I sealed in an envelope, and of course there wasn't one bug on them, but when I opened the pack, all these bugs came crawling out, and all the seeds had holes in them! It was so strange! I guess that the bugs were layed inside the seeds... They were Acacia seeds.

The same kind of thing happened to me with my hollyhock seeds with those nasty weevils.

Dicentra I think your bugs were probably eggs when your trader packed them. I'm sure it wasn't an intentional oversight. I think after packing and the nice warm temps while traveling will hasten the hatching of eggs.

so what is the solution to this? I would just die if I found out I'd sent seeds and this happened, but I guess it's possible for it to happen to anyone. Is there anything we could put in our seed boxes to prevent this?

Freezer or Micro-wave???? After reading the post and because I am trading seeds this year, I popped my Queen Anne's Lace seeds in a plastic bag and put them in the freezer; I did not think that micro-waving would be healthy for the seeds--but I am not sure. Does anyone have an opinion? I have earlier seeds kept in bags in my room and no bugs have been "bugging" me, but want to be sure and figure this is not the time of the year that insects would expect dormancy.

With the hollyhock weevils ... someone suggested popping the seeds in the freezer for a day. I just did this with Scottish thistle seeds when I found a crawly wormish thing when I was cleaning them. There could be some seeds that might be damaged from freezing but I think it's a pretty safe practice for most.

there are some seeds that can't be frozen what about those?

tig,
Sometimes you will find very, very tiny beetles in hibiscus seeds pods. What I do is put the seed pods in a ziplock bag and spray inside the bag with Raid then close the bag real quick and leave over night...next day all the bugs are dead and the seeds do germinate when I plant them....if you catch the beetles before they eat all the seeds inside.

what if you did that with all seeds. cause I put my trades straight in my seed box. I could get them from something else, or something i harvest either one. would spraying them be a safe practice?

Well, I still have the heeby-jeebies and a recent nightmare about crawling insects...lol...but I understand these things can happen. It really caught me off guard and the gross part was when I opened the seed envelope unsuspectedly and the things started to crawl out over my hand..ewwwww! I'm glad I didn't throw the seeds out of reflex, then I'd be on my knees scouting out the bugs in the house...lol. I poured the seeds out on a white napkin, then crushed the bugs with a flat toothpick, plopped everything into a ziplock baggie and put it in the freezer. It looked like eggs may have hatched while the seeds were en route, since there were both baby and adult bugs, and they were crawling out of some of the hollow seeds. I'm over the experience but it did gross me out...lol.
Trish

You can also put a bit of sevin dust in the bag when you store them.

that I can do Cala!!!!

OK, guys, this isn't meant to be nit-picky, but are you suggesting using pesticides after you receive them from a trader, or when you collect your own seed, which will be sent on to others? I'm just asking because I know there are a lot of organic gardeners out there who would just die if they knew they were receiving seed in a trade that had been treated with chemicals. Like I said, I'm not trying to criticize at all. But maybe if some of us do use these methods, we should think about letting others know, maybe on our homepages? Organic gardeners who are very adamant about no chemicals being used on their seed should ask their traders about this, too, if they feel that strongly about the issue.

I was only thinking of the seeds I store in my seed box. The ones I collect I check. or try my best:)

Hi Glory...do you have the name or photo of the very tiny beetles, which frequent hibiscus seeds? The seeds I received were marked Hibiscus, but they looked identical to Balsam Impatiens (can this be right?). I'm more curious about the bugs now. They were grayish, looked like spiders-but weren't, and had a puffed rounded abdominal area and they moved rather quickly. They looked like aphids of some sort. Some were the size of fleas and some were smaller. I also take the organic approach and I was caught offguard with the amount of bugs with these seeds. As Poppysue mentioned, the eggs were probably in the seeds, then hatched en route. I think I'll use the freezer method, in lieu of any chemicals...and I'll just be careful opening seeds.
The point of posting was not to point blame (the trader was fantastic in all regards) but to bring the bug issue to light when passing along seeds. I'll read about suggestions here for dealing with the potential problem :)
Trish

I too would be concerned about receiving seeds with chemicals on them...I simply collect my seed and let them "sit" for about a week before I trade them. If there aren't any bugs in them by that time, there probably won't be.

I don't think there's any need to be in a big panic about seed bugs. There are a lot of insects that might hitch a ride on seeds but not all that many actually eat the seeds themselves. Weevils of certain crops are ones that should be watched for. I know we have hollyhock weevils here ... so I don't collect or trade hollyhock seeds. Weevils can also be a problem for beans, peas, legumes, and sunflowers. I think the best method of control is to clean the seeds the best you can and dry them thoroughly. I keep packets of silica gel in with my seeds but I've read you can also use untreated kitty litter or dried milk for the same purpose. If you see obvious signs of insect damage then test them for germination with the damp paper towel method. An Internet search for seed insects provides mostly control methods for grain crops that are stored in massive volumes. I found one source that suggested dusting seeds with diatomaceous earth. I wouldn’t treat seeds with an insecticide as a preventive measure

wait a week??? LOL!! Then I should be able to know if I have a problem, I've never gotten anything done in less than a week:)

Dicentra,
Sorry but I don't have a picture of the beetles. I do know they are bigger then fleas and can eat the seeds in just a matter of a couple of days.

I agree with most of the thoughts here'
What I do is harvest my seeds,bring them
in,separate and put in individual dishes
or on those styraphone(sp) meat or veg.
trays(washed and sterilized and dried
earlier)Then I just leave them for a week
or so,pack for storage in small ziplocks'
Then label(with dates,instructions)Some
will not agree on the little ziplocks
but at least I can see the contents(check)
before opening'The small zips I use are
what we use to protect our trade cards(sports)
in our business here' Some are zip,others
have a peel/seal strip,easy too' Office
supplies,Wal*Mart,sport shops carry these'
It is also useful to put the storage method
for seeds on the seed packs'Then the receiver
will know how to store them''No Chems on My
Seeds'''Sis'

I'm with WEEBUS and SIS. I always collect my seeds and let them dry in a safe place for at least a week. I want to make sure they're nice and dry before storing or mailing. This takes care of any bugs, too, hopefully.

Ahh! Come on ya'll, a few bugs? Really. most of them are harmless, and yes the eggs do get mailed. Don't panic..LOL
Larkie

EEK!!! it wasn't me :anon: heheeh

that is a total bummer!

I'm going to be extra careful now.. not that I wasn't.

PS
I have not ever had a buggy issue with seeds..

This is creepy, I just had this happen !!! I bought some bright red hollyhock seeds on ebay. They came from Texas sealed in a baggie. Looked fine but earlier today I snatched the baggie up to dispense the seed and guess what I found.... hollyhock weevils. =0( I looked them up.

What's worse is I had traded with someone here and added a tiny ziplock of the red hollyhock seeds trying to be nice (2-days ago), now it's just embarrassing as all get out. I sent a d-mail apologizing and explaining but it's still embarrassing!!!! Atleast they are forewarned of the possibility before they open their envelope, probably won't arrive until next week.

I opened the baggie I was sent (the one and only time I opened it) and popped a few into a tiny ziplock just before I sealed the trade envelope up. I didn't notice anything odd, but they are tiny and dark and of course I wasn't looking for bugs.....

I popped my baggie in the freezer. Also sent the seller a lil note to let him know before he sells anymore.

~Julie =0/

I TRADED WITH ONE OF OUR HAWAII LADIES, AND WAS SO EMBARRASSED WHEN SHE SAID THAT THE SEEDS HAD LITTLE MARTIANS ON THEM.. SMALL BUGS... ITS HAPPENS. A REPLACEMENT WAS SENT AND THAT WAS THE END OF THE ISSUE.

ITS IMPORTANT TO TELL THE SENDER SO THAT THEY CAN CHECK THEIR SEEDS TOO..

I emailed the seller. Explained that the seeds have been sealed in the original baggie since I recv'd them and more than likely they must have left him as eggs mixed in the seed. I told him I wasn't complaining just letting him know since he is still selling them on ebay. That way he can put them in the freezer before he sends them out to people.

~Julie