Help identifying whatever is eating our bread

Question

We have a little mystery going on in my house. About a month back we noticed that a loaf of bread in our pantry had a tiny circle in the plastic leading to a larger circle eaten out of the bread. Initially, we figured that it had happened at the grocery store, so we weren't too concerned. However, about two weeks later we found the same little hole in another loaf. So, we cleared out the entire pantry and thoroughly sprayed the area for bugs with a spray that should last indoors for a year. Just this morning, I found the hole again going to a bagel. The hole in the plastic is always VERY tiny (smalled than the size of an eraser), the area eaten from the bread is usually smaller than a penny. Plus, there's never more than one hole (which leads me to beleive that whatever it is goes in and out of the same hole and doesn't go all through the bread.

I just really want to figure out what this is, because it never eats anything else but the bread (and we have plenty of other items in the pantry to choose from). I don't think it's a mouse because the hole is so perfectly circular (and I think a mouse would do more damage) and there is no other evidence in the house of a mouse being present.

Thanks for any help!

Answer 1

Wow, that is very interesting! A bug generally doesn't make a perfect sized circle either. They are just as sloppy. A perfect sized hole is just weird. That it also sticks to just bread is also just as mind blowing. There isn't much that won't eat bread. Moths tend to eat in circular patterns, but i can't see them eating bread. though there are the types that eat through plastic and can eat into things. My best guess would be a type of moth, which would also explain why the bug spray didn't work. For about a buck, you can go get moth balls. See if that takes care of the problem. For about 3 dollars you can get a sealed plastic bread container. Go to plastic wear in walmart and you'll find one that is long and rectangular. It's for bread and will claim to be. Whatever it is won't find food any longer and will eventually move on. If it were me, i'd spend the 4 dollars and get both moth balls and the container for bread. Is there anything else that might have that thin plastic on that you just aren't noting is a hole since you dont' see an eating pattern? They can lay eggs in there and be a breeding ground for moths. I had it happen in the bag of bird seed i buy. I finally bought a plastic container and it solved all my problems. I also bring the food home and freeze it for a day. Killing off anything that might come with it. Often at stores i see those little moths circling aroudn the bread and pet aisles. If you see too many at a store, switch stores.

Good luck!  

Answer 2

all i can think of is a mouse. bugs wouldnt just eat a small part. and you would think you would see more bugs. that is a good brain teaser put a trap by the bread and see what you get.