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Weevils that come indoors for shelter can infest every room in the home. They often cluster in rooms that have windows. Some species of weevils, such as the rice weevil, feed on stored food products. Homeowners may find these weevils in packages of beans, popcorn, cereal or nuts.
How do I get rid of weevils in my house?
Eliminate Grain Weevils Discard any infested foods. Vacuum pantry shelves, cracks, and crevices. Wipe shelves with white vinegar. Dispose of garbage and vacuum bags outside, away from the home. Check regularly for reappearance — it may take awhile to get rid of them completely.
Do weevils spread around the house?
Weevils present more of a nuisance than some other pantry pests because adults feed just as much as their larva preferring a wider range of things to eat. Since adults fly well and are small, rice weevils can move throughout the home easily finding all kinds of things to eat.
Why am I finding weevils in my house?
Adult weevils look for shelter in unfavorable weather conditions, especially when it is hot and dry. Weevils enter buildings by crawling through cracks or openings around foundations, doors and windows. They do not harm people or pets, or damage buildings or property, or infest food products.
Do weevils live in beds?
It is actually uncommon for weevils to infest your bedroom. However, weevils live and lay eggs inside their food source, so they probably hitched a ride into your bedroom on one of your snacks. The first step is to clean your bedroom and remove any potential weevil food sources.
What smells do weevils hate?
Weevils don’t like the smell of bay leaves. Many people swear the odor of a bay leaf is an effective repellent. They recommend putting a bay leaf or two in each container of grain, cereal, or flour in your kitchen pantry. No matter what species of weevils you’ve got, the bay leaves will supposedly drive them away.
What do weevils hate?
Cloves and bay leaves act as natural repellents to weevils. Place a few bay leaves in your dried food containers to ward off these pests, and position several cloves of garlic around your pantry and kitchen to deter these bugs from making a home in your pantry. White vinegar is also known to kill pesky pantry weevils.
Should I throw out flour with weevils?
A couple weevils in your flour isn’t a big deal — the flour is still totally usable — but it’s an indicator that you’re on the brink of a weevil outbreak. Your best bet is to toss the product, clean out the cupboards, invest in proper storage containers for your flour and other dry food, and begin anew.
Can weevils live in the fridge?
Grain products that are merely refrigerated will be less susceptible, though not immune, from weevil problems. Transferring grain products to sealed metal or glass containers can also prevent infestations.
How does weevil infestation start?
Weevils usually infest grains and starches like rice, flour, pasta, and cereals. Weevil infestations that start outside may be the result of fruit trees or gardens, which are also food sources. The insects often gather on the sides of homes and move into cracks and gaps that lead inside.
Can weevils bite humans?
Rice and granary weevils are harmless to people, houses, furniture, clothing and pets. They cannot bite or sting and they do not carry diseases. They will not feed on furniture, the house structure or other items. The harm they do is destruction of the seeds they infest and the annoyance of being in the wrong place.
Do weevils spread?
Once grain and cotton crops are harvested, weevil larvae can still remain and lead to an infestation. Weevils can develop from the larvae in any warm climate or condition and can spread very rapidly. They may even lay eggs on a harvested crop from a different farm and begin to attack food supplies.
Do weevils like sugar?
Flour, rice, other grains, sugar and seeds are all susceptible to weevil infestations if improperly stored. It only takes one infested bag of flour or rice to contaminate an entire cupboard of food in a short time.
What are the stages of weevils?
Weevils, just like other beetles, have four developmental stages: egg, larva, pupa, and adult. Larvae and adults feed on plants and on materials of plant origin. Eggs and pupae, of course, do not feed. The developmental time from egg to adult is variable from species to species.
Can weevils live in carpet?
Weevil females may lay up 300 eggs and they will hatch when the weather warms. If your tree had weevil eggs they likely hatched in your warm carpet. Vacuum your apartment daily and get rid of vacuum bags far away from your apartment. If you find weevils in your pantry consider wiping down well with vinegar.
Where do weevils hide?
The attic, the garage and the crawl space are also common winter hiding places for weevils. These weevils might spend the winter without being seen by the homeowner. However, some weevils find their way into the living space of the home. They might come through a crack in a wall or a space next to a pipe.
Do weevils get into tea bags?
We’ve never had another problem. The teas have never developed weevils and are in containers that are less airtight than the rice bags. So, I have to conclude that your weevils are probably inside of your tea already, as Drax said.
Should I throw away rice with weevils?
Eliminate Existing Bugs in Rice If you do find weevils in your rice, discard the product immediately. Examine other grains in your pantry, as well as seeds, nuts, dried beans, cereals and dried corn. If they have traces of bugs, your best choice is to throw them out as well. This helps eradicate your infestation.
