Often infested. Since the insects are liable to fall into the food, the schach should be clean. Hold the schach upright, shake it over a white cloth and check whether small bugs (booklice) fall out (Illustrations 80, 439). If so, spray the schach with insect spray. Leave for a few hours, then shake out the dead bugs. If the schach is heavily infested, or if the bamboo canes (“kainess” – “קיינעס”) are internally infested (with lyctus, which make holes in the bamboo, Illustration 441), the schach should not be used.
It’s a good idea to check the schach before buying it, to make sure it’s clean.
Recommendations for storage of schach:
A. Make sure that the schach is completely dry.
B. Spray the schach with long-acting insect spray (such as Sano K600 or K2000).
C. Sprinkle the schach with moth balls and roll or bundle it up with the moth balls.
D. Wrap the schach in an air-tight wrapper, such as thick plastic, and seal with wide tape.
E. Store the schach in a dry place.
F. Before using it again, check it as explained above.
