If finding weevils in your home makes you cringe, you’re not alone. Imagine opening your pantry and finding tiny bugs crawling all over your flour, rice or pasta. Unfortunately, finding weevils in your home is more common than you think.
Weevils are small and sneaky intruders, but their impact can feel overwhelming. They sometimes arrive in unopened packages or squeeze through small gaps in containers. Once they’re in, they multiply quickly, and a minor problem soon becomes a full-blown infestation.
If you have a problem with these pests, don’t panic. Contact pest control professionals if you notice weevils in your home. These experts have the skills and experience to handle even persistent infestations.
Identifying Weevils and Infested Food
The first step in dealing with weevils is identifying their presence in your home. Weevils are attracted to moisture and feed on grains, nuts and dried fruits. Therefore, you’ll most likely find them around the kitchen or pantry. A few indicators of a weevil problem include a musty odor and adult weevils in your goods. Other signs are damaged food and weevil droppings, which are white and powdery.
There are many different species of weevils, so it is important to identify which type is most likely to infest your home. These small, dark-colored beetles typically range from one-eighth to one-fourth of an inch in length with snouts and pitted backs.
The most common types of home-invading weevils include:
- Maize weevil: This common pest infests grains, including maize, and reproduces within stored kernels.
- Bean weevil: This oval-shaped beetle with a stubby body targets beans and legumes, laying eggs on seeds where larvae develop and feed.
- Rice weevil: These weevils are very small with a reddish-brown body that infests stored grains like rice, with adults and larvae causing significant damage.
- Strawberry root weevil: This small, oval-bodied insect has a rough-textured body and can’t fly. It often attacks the roots and foliage of strawberry plants and other garden crops.
- Black vine weevil: This broad-bodied beetle, with a distinct long snout and grooved wing cover, feeds on plant leaves and lays eggs near their roots.
- Wheat weevil: This is a small beetle with an elongated and cylindrical shape. It primarily attacks stored wheat, burrowing into the grains and causing economic losses.
Cleaning and Preparing the Area
Once you have confirmed a weevil infestation, it’s time to control these pests. The first step is to clean your home. Focus on problem areas like the kitchen and pantry, where weevils are most likely to hide. Vacuum all corners and shelves in your pantry to eliminate all food sources. Ensure you reach behind and underneath appliances or shelves where these pests hide. Wipe all surfaces with warm, soapy water to remove leftover eggs or larvae.
Next, properly discard any contaminated food. This is very important to contain the spread of weevils as they quickly reproduce. Ensure that you seal this contaminated food in a plastic bag to prevent any chances of the pest spreading. A good way of identifying contaminated foods is by checking for a white powder. These are weevil droppings and indicate their presence in the food.
How to Get Rid of Weevils
After cleaning your pantry, it’s time to tackle the remaining weevil problem. While professional pest control can offer the most effective long-term solution, there are some DIY methods you can try:
- Natural deterrents: Bay leaves and cloves can help repel weevils. Place them in your pantry or inside sealed containers to help deter any remaining pests.
- Use traps: Place shallow pans with water around your home. This will attract weevils.
- Sealing cracks: Ensure that your kitchen and pantry are tightly sealed. Check for cracks or gaps in walls, floors or cupboards and seal them with caulking to prevent weevils from entering.
Preventive Measures
To ensure you don’t experience weevil problems in the future, it’s essential to adopt some preventative measures:
- Use airtight containers: Store your dry goods in airtight, durable containers, such as glass jars or thick plastic bins. This will keep weevils out and preserve your food’s freshness.
- Regular inspections: Periodically inspect your pantry for signs of weevils. Early detection can help prevent an infestation from getting out of hand.
- Food dotation: Follow the “first in, first out” principle by rotating food in your pantry. This ensures that older products don’t sit too long and become potential breeding grounds for weevils.
- Monitor temperature: Try to keep your pantry cool and dry, as weevils thrive in warm, humid environments.
If you notice a weevil problem, seek the help of pest control professionals. They will give you tailored solutions to your pest problem.
How Fast Do Weevils Multiply?
Weevils are known for their rapid reproduction, laying hundreds of eggs in their lifetimes. For example, the female rice weevil lays an average of four eggs daily for four to five months, translating to over 400 eggs. The large number of eggs is a survival technique that ensures most weevils survive to adulthood.
Weevils deposit their eggs directly into food sources, increasing the chances of survival for their young ones. Popular breeding sites for weevils include:
- Kitchens and pantries: The presence of dry goods such as flour, rice, pasta and cereals in these places ensures eggs have a constant food supply.
- Cracks and crevices: Weevils lay eggs in the small gaps near food storage areas. These tiny spaces often go unnoticed, allowing infestations to grow.
- Food packaging: Weevils can chew through thin plastic, cardboard or paper packaging and may breed inside unopened boxes or bags of food.
- Pet food storage areas: Pet food, such as dry kibble or birdseed, is another common place for weevils to breed, especially if stored in open containers.
- Bulk food bins: Buying food in bulk without thoroughly inspecting it beforehand increases the risk of bringing home weevils. They can already be present in the food and start breeding in your pantry.
Forgotten or expired food items left undisturbed for long periods, especially in warm and humid conditions, are ideal for weevil reproduction.
Any unsealed or improperly stored food item can be a food source for weevils, allowing their eggs to hatch quickly. Left unchecked, a minor weevil infestation can quickly become a big problem. If you spot any signs of weevils, contact a professional pest control expert for help. They can also help you understand other pests, like the size of wolf spiders.
How Do Weevils Get Into Sealed Containers?
One of the most frustrating things about weevils is their ability to enter sealed containers. Weevils are resourceful and can chew through food packaging or squeeze through tiny folds and seams.
They can also enter food during its growth, harvest or storage before you even purchase it. For example, weevils may have already infested grains during processing or packaging. Therefore, even sealed containers may harbor eggs that hatch once you open them at home.
After purchase, you should immediately inspect and transfer dry goods to airtight containers. While sealed containers are a deterrent, they are not foolproof.
Tips to Deter Weevils From Your Pantry
- Use diatomaceous earth: Food-grade diatomaceous earth is a natural substance that can help deter weevils when sprinkled in pantry corners or around storage bins.
- Keep containers clean: Before refilling containers with dry goods, clean them thoroughly to remove any potential eggs that may have been left behind.
- Smaller quantities: If you don’t consume large quantities of certain foods, consider purchasing smaller amounts to avoid long-term storage where weevils are more likely to appear.
While DIY methods can help deter weevils, an infestation is best left to the professionals. Pest control experts have the tools, knowledge and experience to implement long-lasting treatments.
These professionals can help break the weevil life cycle by targeting all stages of the pest, from eggs to adults. They can also advise on other invasive pests, like red fire ants.
Control Weevils With Professional Help
Dealing with weevils in your home doesn’t have to be a nightmare. Contact a professional pest control expert for custom solutions.
ABC Can Treat for Weevils
Wheat weevils can be difficult to control because of how quickly they reproduce. Instead of battling these pests on your own, contact ABC Home & Commercial Services. Our professionals can come up with an effective pest treatment plan, so you can feel comfortable when you go to grab food out of your pantry. Plus, our team can help you get rid of ants, cockroaches and other household pests.
