Sechach is often infested with insects and should be
checked before being laid to ensure insects do not fall into
the food.
Common infestations include spiders, small book mites
measuring just one millimeter long and grayish-cream in
color, and black insects half a centimeter long that burrow
into the reeds.
Both fresh sechach such as palm and other tree
branches, as well as dry sechach such as
"Keines," can be infested.
How to check: Hold the sechach above a large white
sheet of paper or tablecloth, bang it down and examine the
surface for small insects.
If an infestation is found, spray the sechach with
insect spray and cover it with plastic. A few hours later
shake it or brush it off (a vacuum cleaner may be helpful).
If black insects are found inside the reeds it is best not to
use the sechach.
Sechach storage recommendations: Spray the
sechach with a long-term insect repellent such as K900
or Antican, use moth balls liberally and use a hermetically-
sealed container such as plastic. (The original containers
are not hermetically sealed.) The sechach should be
thoroughly dry and stored in a dry location.
Rav Moshe Vaye is the author of "Bedikas Hamozon
Kehalochoh."
