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Thanks Mary, I am sure we will.

When I went to South Africa it was with my ex husband and he was on a business trip. I was along for the ride.

When in Durban I had the BEST time! A rugby team were staying in the same hotel as us ... we played backgammon and table tennis and cards while my husband was off on business.

I hope you have a lovely visit to Australia in January

Hi Mary, I live in Durban in Kwa Zulu Natal. Durban is on the East Coast of Natal.
We have managed to find airfares which suit our pockets so we will be winging our way to Oz in Jan to visit the family - can't wait!
Will be staying a month!

Oh Mosey! I have just looked at my post, I didn't mean threat!!!! Sorry, I meant thread.

Hi Mosey. I have just caught up with this threat. We live on the Sunshine Coast, just over an hour north of Brisbane, QLD. We love it here.

I visited South Africa years ago and thought it was beautiful (well most of it was) and have always wanted to visit again. It's on our list of places to visit .. whereabouts do you live?

Hi again MfA, He lives in Blue Bay NSW. I think it is near Newcastle - not sure. We are hoping to get out there this coming Jan but airfares from here are just astronomical at the mo so waiting for specials! We were out there 2 years ago but he was staying in Sydney then so I have not yet been to Blue Bay. Where are you?

Hi Mosey, where in Oz does your stepson live? Hi Rosti, ha ha ha to your post! That is funny. The measures I have taken, ie the plastic containers, are working so far so I haven't had to resort to the freezer which is just as well as I don't eat meat!!!

Hi MFA, I live in South Africa and have a stepson in Australia.

Is there much difference in the cooking time of fresh, live mites and frozen ones? Or should they be defrosted first?
Putting the bag in the freezer (or keeping in the fridge) will inhibit the hatching of eggs and kill off most of the mites, but if there were there then they will still be there, you just can't see them moving around so less inclined to notice them.

Thanks for the bay leaf tip, Frexy. I have a little bay tree and will put a sprig in the larder. That's also a good idea about putting a new bag of flour in the freezer. Thanks wor Jackie. What hot and humid country do you live in Mosey?

Hi, everybody, I live in Spain and have also had terrible problems with flour mites and wasted loads of flour. I contacted Allinson's at bakingmad.com who were very helpful. They suggested plastic airtight containers and vacuuming the cupboard with the nozzle end of cleaner----not washing as that increased the dampness. Also suggested putting new bag of flour in freezer for 24 hours as soon after purchase as possible. I'm pleased to say it has worked and now I've had some excellent results with my breadmaker which had been gathering dust as I coudn't bear the thought of opening another bag and promptly binning it, mites as well

Hi All, I also live in a country where it is rather hot and humid and we keep our flour in the fridge in a plastic container. This prevents it from 'sweating'. I have also heard of the bayleaf story - I believe this works as well.

Just read somewhere that Bay leaves help to keep these pests at bay [he he]

Many Thanks for all your reply's. I will buy a few more plastic containers, I have thrown away so much flour a loaf must be costing me about £1.50 I'll let you know the results Thanks again Sue

I'm not really sure what they are goldie. I just found this product in the supermarket which treats them (well it's rather like fly paper, they are attracted to it and then they stick ... gross I know). Anyway I bought a pack just in case and put one in my larder and, lo and behold, I caught some moths. Next time I did a major clean I found a couple of caterpillar type thingies which rather freaked me out. Anyway, at the moment I seem to be squeaky clean in my pantry, thanks to my plastic container fetish!!!

Hiya Mary.....so you have a plastic container fettish?! LOL

Seriously, what are pantry moths? I know about normal moths that go for the light. Are these different?

Since I have lived here in Queensland where it is generally warm and humid I have learnt to keep everything in 'tupperware' containers. They sell loads of different ones over here and I have a large selection in my larder. I don't store anything in bags any more. I had an infestation of flour mites, oh that was so YUK. Then I got pantry moths .... even worse! I cleaned my larder completely and now take everything out of its bag as soon as I get it home. It's worth it! I never have to chuck anything out now and as the containers are dishwashable and go on for ever I am actually saving money. Well that's what I tell my husband when he asks 'Do we really need another plastic container?'!!!

Hi suzanne,my advice is the same as goldie.If you type flour mites in the search for box,left hand side.Then messageboards and click go,it will take you too the threads all about flourmites.

Hi suzanne......You need to throw the flour away and store it in a container with a good lid on.....I had this problem once and this is the advice I was given.