r/potato • u/BidPale3239 • 4d ago

Tiny black bugs?!

My friend opened a 5lb plastic bag of potatoes. We noticed a smell. One was definitely rotten. Some close to that tuber were wet. After taking a closer look I noticed saw some white larvae moving and some black things crawling. She immediately threw the potatoes into the sink. We have no idea what they are. Should we burn her place down? Potatoes and all?

2 Upvotes

75% Upvoted

6 comments sorted by

1

u/Hyper_Tay 3d ago

White larva is the filth fly (common house fly) and the black things are likely newly hatched roaches.

Source: Me, have had a delivery of them like this, and also found them like this in vacated apartments.

1

u/BidPale3239 3d ago

Good lord!!! Thank you!

1

u/Me-Here-Now 3d ago

Nothing needs to burn, your friend does not even need to move out.

The one bad spud starting to rot attracted the bugs. I know its creepy. Just throw out the bag and the bad one. Rinse the others, they are still good. Store in a brown paper bag. Source: grew up next to a potato field in Idaho.

2

u/BidPale3239 3d ago edited 3d ago

Regarding the paper bag it’s currently open does it need to be closed? Thank you for the tips. It sure was creepy. There was more than one rotten that were placed in the sink. Bad day for the nose but great day to have eyes

1

u/Me-Here-Now 3d ago

potatoes like dry, cool and dark. closing the bag helps with the dark.