how do i get rid of weevils in my kitchen

How to Get Rid of Weevils in the Kitchen

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What insecticide kills weevils?

What spray kills weevils?

• Set up a Pheromone Trap. Pheromone traps, such as Dr.
• Freeze or Toss out Infested Food. Toss out all food items that are infested with weevils.
• Use Food-Grade Diatomaceous Earth.
• Check Your Groceries.

How to get rid of weevils in cupboards naturally?

Method 2 Method 2 of 2: Preventing Weevil Infestations

1. Buy smaller amounts of flour. If you don't use very much flour, consider buying small amounts at a time.
2. Freeze the flour. As soon as you bring flour home, seal it inside a freezer bag and put it in the freezer for at least 1 week.
3. Place a fresh bay leaf in the flour. ...
4. Use pheromone traps. ...
5. Check your pantry for weevils on a regular basis. ...

How do I get rid of insects naturally?

Using Homemade Bug Spray

• Baby Shampoo Bug Spray. A spray made with baby shampoo works well to get rid of some bugs, such as aphids and whiteflies. ...
• Cooking Oil Pest Spray. An effective way to control aphids, spider mites, thrips, scale, and whiteflies is to use a spray made with cooking oil – you can use any ...
• Herbal Water Spray. ...

How to get rid of flour mites and weevils?

• Wipe down all the surfaces, but avoid using chemical pesticides anywhere near your food or food storage.
• Try cleaning with a mixture of water and vinegar (1 part vinegar to 2 parts water) or natural insect repellents and safe pesticides like neem oil or orange oil (1 ...
• Use a hairdryer to dry the storage area. Flour mites like damp, humid places.

Why do I have 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.

Why do I have weevils in my kitchen?

Weevils enter the home through outside sources. Some may exist in the dry food you buy at the grocery store, while others can enter your home through cracks and holes in your walls or windows.

How do I keep weevils out of my cupboards?

Top 8 Steps To Keep Weevils And Bugs Out Of FoodGet To Know Weevils. ... Keep Your Kitchen & Pantry Clean. ... Seal Any Possible Weevil Entry Points In Your House, Especially The Pantry. ... Check The Foods You Buy. ... Store Foods In Airtight Containers. ... Throw Away Infested & Open Food Packages. ... Use Repellents. ... Throw Out Trash Immediately.

How does weevil infestation start?

Weevils generally gain entry into your home through purchased containers of whole-grain cereal products that have been infested at food processing and packaging centers. Once in your home, weevils can spread to whatever cereal grains are available to them.

What kills weevils instantly?

Wipe the shelves with hot soapy water or a disinfecting spray then wipe again with white vinegar, which is known to kill weevils.

How do I get rid of weevils forever?

Eliminate Grain WeevilsDiscard 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.

What do weevils hate?

A natural method of deterring weevils is the placement of dried chilies, cloves or bay leaves on pantry shelves. Weevils are sensitive to smell and dislike the aroma of spices; the presence of these strong-smelling herbs will repel rice weevils and other household pests.

How do you keep weevils from coming back?

A great way to naturally repel weevils is to place cloves and bay leaves in your cupboards to help ward them off. As well as this, you could also try positioning several cloves of garlic around your pantry or kitchen to keep them at bay.

Why can't I get rid of weevils?

STEP 1: Get rid of any unsealed food. By the time you spot weevils, odds are they've infested other nearby food items. So to oust them, you've got to purge your pantry of unsealed dry foods, including oats, rice, barley, flour, corn meal, pasta—even prepackaged box-type dinners that don't have sealed internal pouches.

What are signs of weevil infestation?

Emerging adult weevils leave visible exit holes in grains. Infected grain is liable to become warmer which can lead to damp, mould and even grain germination. Insect tracks through floury dust created as adults move from one food source to the next.

Where do weevils lay their eggs?

Many species of weevils lay their eggs on the ground near a host plant, but for some species, the females will bore a hole directly into the plant stem or seed. She then lays her eggs in the hole, and cements it shut. Generally, a female can lay up to 250 eggs at one time, and the eggs take up to three days to hatch.

What does a weevil turn into?

Weevil Identification 2 Weevils lay eggs that turn into larvae that appear like little white grubs.

Where do weevils come from and how do you get rid of them?

Rice weevils often hatch from larvae in sealed bags of rice, so examine your pantry items—even the sealed packages—thoroughly. Don't stop there: If boxed products have sealed airtight bags inside, toss the box and keep the bag (label the bag with an indelible marker to help you remember what's inside).

Can weevils harm you?

The Good News. The truth is, weevils are NOT harmful to humans. Accidentally eating them along with your food does not cause any ill effects. What could happen is that they can simply add a different crunch to your food when eaten, something unpalatable even?

Where do weevils lay their eggs?

Many species of weevils lay their eggs on the ground near a host plant, but for some species, the females will bore a hole directly into the plant stem or seed. She then lays her eggs in the hole, and cements it shut. Generally, a female can lay up to 250 eggs at one time, and the eggs take up to three days to hatch.

What foods attract weevils?

Like other pantry pests, weevils will infest and feed on grains, nuts, beans, cereals, seeds, corn, and other foods.

How to get rid of weevils in food?

2. Discard any food that has weevils. Although you won't be able to see the eggs in pantry items, you will be able to see adult weevils. Check your flour and pantry products for them and if you find weevils, throw away the food. If you don't see weevils, you can store and use the flour or food.

What to do if you have weevils on your walls?

If you are overwhelmed by a huge infestation of weevils (for example, thousands are crawling all over your floors and walls), you may want to contact a pest control professional.

How to clean pantry shelves?

Wipe your pantry shelves with white vinegar or eucalyptus oil. Once you've thoroughly cleaned your pantry shelves, wipe them with a liquid that weevils dislike. You can w ipe a mixture of half water and half white vinegar or use eucalyptus oil.

How long do weevils live in a pantry?

This is especially important because adult weevils can live at least a year. Remember to thoroughly clean out hard-to-reach parts of your pantry where weevils might start thriving. This is a good chance to wash down the pantry shelves again. Keeping a clean pantry will prevent flour weevils from coming back.

What to do with unsealed dry goods?

It’s also a good idea to discard any unsealed dry goods, like rice, flour, pasta, and oats, just to be safe. Next, remove everything else from the pantry and thoroughly vacuum the shelves. Empty the vacuum outside and wipe it down with a disinfectant in case it’s carrying any bugs.

What are the red beetles in my pantry?

If you've noticed small reddish brown beetles, weevils, in your flour, they may also be in other foods in your pantry. You should also check for weevils near your pet's food dishes since this may be their source of food. Check for weevils in: Cereals and grains (oats, rice, quinoa, bran). Crackers.

Can weevils lay eggs in flour?

If you don't use very much flour, consider buying small amounts at a time. If you leave flour sitting around for a long period of time, weevils may be encouraged to lay their eggs in it. The faster you use your flour, the fresher it is, and the fewer the chances for infestation. Freeze the flour.

How to prevent weevils from eating my food?

Follow these additional tips to prevent weevils: 1 Do not add new, fresh food to old; and always clean out containers before refilling. 2 Store pet foods, birdseed, etc. in buildings away from the house or basement areas well away from other foods. 3 Do not purchase bagged or boxed foods with torn or damaged packaging. 4 Do not buy bagged or boxed foods that are past their expiration dates. 5 Do not overbuy food—just buy what you expect to use quickly. Or store excess in the refrigerator or freezer. 6 Keep pantry and other food areas clean and free of crumbs and loose foods. Clean up spills immediately. 7 Keep food storage areas dry; weevils are attracted to moisture.

What Causes Weevils in Food Storage Areas?

Once in your home, weevils can spread to whatever cereal grains are available to them. Storage areas with a lot of spilled foods are more susceptible to weevil infestations, as well as those in which many partially used containers are stored. It may be best to set a limit on how long you store partially used containers of grain products, throwing old containers away and buying new products regularly.

What are the most common weevils?

The most common type of weevils found in pantries and cupboards are the rice weevil ( Sitophilus oryzae ), the granary or wheat weevil ( Sitophilus granarius ), and the maize weevil ( Sitophilus zeamais ). These are not the same weevils that can damage outdoor landscape plants and agricultural crops, but they can create a serious problem in ...

How to tell if you have a weevil infestation?

A weevil infestation is most often spotted when a cereal grain product is poured out for use in cooking. If you are lucky, you may spot active adult beetles. Often, a container of the grain-based product will be teeming with tiny adult beetles when you open the container.

Why are weevils in cereal?

Because the insect's reproductive cycle requires whole seeds, it is bulk whole-grain products that are most likely to experience an infestation of weevils. Bags or boxes of almost any cereal grain can be susceptible to weevils.

What pests are in the pantry?

Back to Top. You may instantly recognize the most common pantry and kitchen cupboard pests, such as ants, houseflies, cockroaches, or even pantry moths. But your food-storage areas can also be plagued by a strange-looking insect that's less well known—the weevil. Weevils comprise a very large group of more than 95,000 species of insects, ...

What are the different types of weevils?

The three types of weevils that common indoor kitchen pests range in size from 1/8 to 3/16 inch long. Rice weevils are flying beetles, dull red-brown in color with four lighter spots. They are most common in slightly warmer climates. Granary weevils cannot fly and are shiny red-brown in color; they are found in cooler climates.

How to get rid of weevils in kitchen?

Spaying your kitchen and pantry with an insecticide is almost a sure-fire way to get rid of any weevils in your house.

What repels weevils?

You can also use other substances that repel weevils; for example, laying out cloves of garlic around the kitchen or pantry will have a similar effect and repel any nearby weevils.

What is a Pantry Weevil?

A weevil is a tiny, pesky little beetle that can ruin your food and kitchen cupboards.

What to do with a kitchen cupboard?

The first thing you should do with a kitchen cupboard is clean the infected pantry as much as possible. If you don’t properly dispose of all infected items and clean out your pantry, it is very likely that the weevils will just return with a vengeance. So, clean your shelves like your life depends on it!

What kind of weevils live in food?

There are thousands of different types of weevils that can live in a vast variety of food, but typically the weevils that bother us are either flour weevils or rice weevils. Normally, you’ll spot them as little, slightly off-colored squirming larvae in otherwise white, decidedly not squirming food.

What happens if weevils are stuck to glue?

Once the weevils are stuck to the glue, they’ll be unable to move any further and will eventually die out.

How does a weevil trap work?

It works using pheromones—chemicals released by animals (in this case, weevils) to attract mates of the opposite sex.

How to get rid of weevils in food?

If you find weevils in one product, go through your pantry and look for signs of infestations in other foods. Throw out any food that has signs. If you have unaffected grains, place them in sealed containers. Any remaining adults outside of these containers will have no food source and die on their own within a few days.

How to keep weevils out of food?

Experts agree the best way to keep weevils out of your food is to store your grains in sealed glass containers with tight-fighting lids instead of the bags and boxes in which they’re sold. Clear containers are a great option as they let you see more clearly if any weevils are in there.

How do weevils get into your house?

In most cases, you’re probably unwittingly bringing the weevils home with you from the grocery store.

How to get rid of weevils in pantries?

How to get rid of weevils. Insecticide isn’t recommended for control of weevil infestations in home pantries, but preventing and eliminating them is fairly simple. Here are some tips: Store grains safely. Experts agree the best way to keep weevils out of your food is to store your grains in sealed glass containers with tight-fighting lids instead ...

How many weevils are there in the world?

While there’s a crazy number of weevil species in the world—more than 95,000!— only three species are pests of household stored foods, according to Scott Lingren, an entomologist and owner of Venus Pest Co. The three you’re likely see in your home: the granary weevil, rice weevil, and maize weevil.

How long do weevils live?

New adults that emerge from the grain kernel will mate and seek out more grain kernels to lay eggs in, continuing the cycle. Adults live for about six months.

What is a weevil in baking?

Welcome to weevils, tiny pests that can infiltrate a host of food products like rice, flour, and other grains. And unless you watch out, they may take over your entire pantry!

What are weevils and how do they get inside the house?

A weevil is part of the beetle family and they are tiny bugs that are practically invisible to the naked eye until fully grown. There are various types of weevils, and the kind that invades your pantry feed on dry goods such as grains, rice, beans, cereals, seeds, nuts and more.

When will weevils be out of the house in 2021?

Jul 15, 2021. Despite your best efforts to keep your house sparkling clean and bug-free, it doesn’t always work. Even with the best cleaning tips and top-tested cleaning products, pesky weevils can still make their way into your home, more specifically in your kitchen pantry or where you keep dry goods such as flour or rice.

How do you know if you have weevils?

You’ll know you have weevils if you spot tiny brown bugs in your dry goods or around the food containers. Weevils are especially easy to spot in light-colored foods like rice and light-colored grains. Other signs you may have weevils are “damaged packages or fine dust inside or outside of food containers,” Wang says.

What to clean before returning to pantry?

Clean any unaffected items such as cans or containers before returning them to the pantry.

Can weevils be prevented?

It’s best to try to prevent weevils in the first place, but even with precautions, it may not be entirely possible to prevent them altogether. While getting rid of weevils isn’t hard, it can be time-consuming and tedious. Here’s what you need to do:

Can weevils hide in packaging?

"If trying to salvage food, put items in the freezer for a few days or spread the food under the hot summer sun, if suitable, and then store them in a sealed container," recommends Wang. If you’re unsure whether it can be salvaged, it’s best to dispose of the item.

Can weevils chew through plastic?

Weevils can chew through cardboard and plastic, which means they can also get into unopened packages of food. Get rid of excess food packaging such as cardboard boxes if the food is in an airtight bag that hasn’t been contaminated. Weevils can hide in packaging and re-emerge later.

How to get rid of weevils in food?

Begin by inspecting all of your food items for signs of weevils. Open packages of flour, rice, pasta, and cereal and check for shell castings and small brown and black specs. If you notice adult weevils or suspicious debris in your food, discard it in the trash.

What to do if you have a weevil infestation?

If you have a severe weevil infestation and you’re confident that there is no chance of contaminating your food, try treating the pantry with a commercial insecticide. Make sure to choose a product designed specifically for weevils.

What are Weevils? Where did They Come from?

It’s easy to think these insects are from a child’s storybook with such a goofy name. Unfortunately, that’s not the case. But, what are weevils, and where do weevils come from?

How big do weevils get?

Weevils are slender oval insects that range in size depending on species. Some are only three millimeters long, while others grow up to 10 millimeters. They are brown to black and have an elongated head with a snout.

How to clean a pantry with a vacuum?

Remove all of the remaining food from the cupboard or pantry and set it aside. Use the hose attachment on your vacuum to clean all cracks and crevices on each shelf. Empty the vacuum debris into the garbage and take it to the outside trash can.

How long can you keep weevil eggs in the freezer?

Keep them in the freezer for a minimum of four days to kill weevil eggs that are not visible to the naked eye.

What is the best disinfectant for sugar ants?

White vinegar is a handy liquid to keep in your home. This inexpensive disinfectant is non-toxic and has almost unlimited uses, including killing and deterring weevils, as well as being what kills sugar ants that may be lurking in the pantry and around garbage cans. tb1234.

What is the best way to get rid of weevils?

2. Bay leaf. Bay leaf, also known as neem, has been used as a natural remedy since ancient times to help get rid of many problems. In case you prefer to keep flour in containers instead of in packets, chances are there would be greater contamination of weevils.

How to get rid of weevils in pantry?

This is the most basic remedy you can try out to get rid of weevils from your pantry, cabinets, shelves, closet, and cupboards. Remove your shelf paper if required. Mix some liquid soap or detergent with water and wash the shelves with it. While cleaning, take special care of the cracks and crevices.

How to prevent weevils?

A weevil infestation is never pleasant. While it is really impossible to avoid weevil infestation at least quite a few times in your lifetime, there are some ways you can adopt to control the infestation. Here they are listed below:

How do weevils get in?

Causes of weevil infestation: The weevil bug mainly thrives by laying eggs in whole grains or seeds stored in dark and moist places. Opened containers containing loose edibles and unsealed packets are their way of getting in. Weevil larvae and eggs too can travel far and wide.

How to trap weevils in kitchen?

You can use this to create a weevils trap in many ways. You can just keep a wet piece of cloth at a convenient place in your kitchen. Once it is full of the weevils, you can soak it in soapy water or you can throw it away after disposing of the weevils so they don’t cause further infestation.

How long to microwave seeds?

In case you are using a microwave oven for the purpose, put the stuff on a glass plate or dish and microwave it for around 5 minutes. However, remember that this is not the recommended method for seeds that you plan to use for gardening, as the heat may destroy the chances of germination.

Can weevils survive in cold?

Weevils are creatures that cannot stand extremes of temperatures, whether it is heat or cold. So, freezing things that weevils like, for example, grains, flour, pasta, oats, cornmeal and grits, is also a very efficient way. Not only do they die out, but their eggs dry up as well, preventing further weevil infestation.

How to get rid of weevils in your house?

Store grains and other weevil-tempting foods in dry areas, and always throw out any food where you find weevils. Clear any cupboards where you've found weevils and clean thoroughly before storing food there again, using a vacuum to be sure you've gotten all larvae.

Why should you avoid chemical treatments for weevils?

You should avoid using chemical treatments to get rid of weevils because most are not safe to use around food. 3

What is the most destructive pest to food?

Stored Food Pest Damage. Partly because of its long life and partly because of its ability to fly, the rice weevil is considered to be the most destructive, but all three weevils can cause extensive damage to stored foods. When they infest grain that is stored in bins and remains undisturbed, they can completely destroy the food.

How long is a granary weevil?

The granary weevil is more cylindrical than the rice or maize weevil and is about 1/5-inch long.

How big are rice weevils?

Rice Weevils. Very tiny, this weevil is only about 1/16-inch long. The adult is dull reddish-brown to black, with four reddish-yellow spots on its back. The larvae are soft, white grubs with no legs. Pupae are similar to adults with long snouts, but they are white.

How long does a rice weevil live?

The adult rice weevil can fly, and lives up to five months, with the female laying up to 400 eggs during her lifetime.

What is the color of the maize weevil?

It is slightly larger, up to 1/8-inch long, and like the rice weevil, it is dull reddish brown to black with four red-yellow spots on its back. However, its coloring is generally darker than that of the rice weevil.