Re: Earwigs? Do you mean gnats, fruitflies?

[Guest guest]

Dear Kellie,

How could they get on your scoby if you have it covered with a cloth and

bound with a rubber band?

I left some mommas uncovered on the floor in a container years ago, and

fruitflies laid eggs that hatched out into litte white maggots on it.

Yuck. It makes me shudder stil. Of course, I threw it out. I was saving

it to lay out to dry to try to make purses.

Fruitfly traps can be easily made. Put some KT into a wide low saucer

and add a small glup of dishwashing detergent to it.

The little critters slide down into it and can't crawl out. Also, some

say lay bay leaves on your windows. I do, but can't guarantee it helps.

Blessings on you all. LOve. MArge.

[Guest guest]

Thanks everyone. I am really frustrated now that I tossed my brew out,

because I have sinced learned that it was probably just brown yeast

(good yeast), but oh well live and learn, I just hope the action I

took will not kill my cultures (gave them both a good vinegar bath),

so far they all look ok but after one day of brewing I do not see much

action, but it has only been one day. What can I say, I sort of over

reacted, micro-organism are a bit difficult to determine what is good

and what is bad!

Yes I had covered the jars with filter paper and rubber bands, the

earwig did not get to the scoby just the filter paper, on top, but it

sort of grossed me out. Victor has told me how to keep the bugs away

placing the jar in a water moat. I do this with my pet's bowl to keep

bugs away, this is a great idea for earwigs (thanks Victor!)

Thanks again everyone, I will get better with this in time.

Kellie

>

> Dear Kellie,

>

> How could they get on your scoby if you have it covered with a cloth and

> bound with a rubber band?

>

> I left some mommas uncovered on the floor in a container years ago, and

> fruitflies laid eggs that hatched out into litte white maggots on it.

> Yuck. It makes me shudder stil. Of course, I threw it out. I was saving

> it to lay out to dry to try to make purses.

>

> Fruitfly traps can be easily made. Put some KT into a wide low saucer

> and add a small glup of dishwashing detergent to it.

>

> The little critters slide down into it and can't crawl out. Also, some

> say lay bay leaves on your windows. I do, but can't guarantee it helps.

>

> Blessings on you all. LOve. MArge.

>

[Guest guest]

>I just hope the action I

>took will not kill my cultures (gave them both a good vinegar bath),

No it shouldn't hurt the SCOBYs, I don't think.

>so far they all look ok but after one day of brewing I do not see much

>action, but it has only been one day.

Once you disturb the SCOBYs, and as far as I can tell that might even

include becoming anxious about them, but for sure phyisically disturbing

the SCOBY will slow down it's action. It will have to get reorganized. The

vinegar would not give the yeasts anything to eat and they are what make

the bubbles.

>What can I say, I sort of over

>reacted, micro-organism are a bit difficult to determine what is good

>and what is bad!

Except by learning. Would suggest asking first next time though so you

dont' have to learn the hard way What mold looks like is fuzzy spots on

top the SCOBY. Not fuzzy, not mold. If you suspect mold it is ok to touch

the spots because if they are smooth like the rest of the SCOBY it's just

yeastie bits caught in the SCOBY mat, and if they are fuzzy it won't matter

that you just spread it around because you must throw the SCOBY away.

That's why mold prevention is so important.

>Yes I had covered the jars with filter paper and rubber bands, the

>earwig did not get to the scoby just the filter paper, on top, but it

>sort of grossed me out.

Ah in that case you could just have thrown out the filter paper and put a

new one on.

>Victor has told me how to keep the bugs away

>placing the jar in a water moat. I do this with my pet's bowl to keep

>bugs away, this is a great idea for earwigs (thanks Victor!)

Glad to have been of help.

--

~~~ There is no way to peace; peace is the way ~~~~

--A.J. Muste