07 5477 6675
Any Questions? Call us today!
All You Need To Know About Weevils
All You Need To Know About Weevils
Weevils are a type of beetle from the family known as Curculionoidea. They are quite small and feed with plants, and there are about 97,000 known species out there. Some of them damage and kill crops, so they are considered pests.
They are also known as “flour bugs” and this is because they are often found in flour, rice, cereals or cornmeal. In this article we’ll find out more about these insects and learn how to get rid of them.
What Do Weevils Look Like?
They do have a wide variety of shapes and colours depending on the species, but most of them have these features:
Size – they can have between 3 and 10 mm in length, and an oval-shaped body that is usually slender
Colour – most of the weevils have dark colours (black or brownish)
Head – the easiest way to recognize weevils is based on their unique heads. They are elongated and form a snout, and the mouth is right at the end of it. Some species have a snout as long as their body. There are some exceptions, but most species have this appearance
How Did I Get Weevils?
As mentioned before, these insects infest grains, rice, seeds, flour, pasta or cereals. Their eggs are very tiny, so you may end up buying infested foods and then bringing them inside the home, allowing the insects to multiply.
But they also like to infest fruit trees and gardens, as they can find plenty of food sources. From there, they can get inside the home through cracks and gaps.
Weevils live and feed inside the food, so you may not even notice them until it’s already too late. Females make a hole into seeds or grains and lay an egg into each one. Then they seal up the entry and leave the egg there to hatch. Once that happens, the larva feeds on the inside until it is fully grown and gets out. Female weevils emit pheromones to attract the males, and they wait outside for them to emerge. Then, they immediately bond and reproduce, creating new insects and multiplying fast. An adult insect can live up to 8 months.
Are Weevils Dangerous?
They do not pose a threat to humans directly, they do not bite or destroy wood or furniture. But they can cause a lot of damage to crops and garden plants (outdoors) and to stored foods (indoors). Even if they do not eat large quantities of grains or cereals, they infest the food with their faeces and cast skins. Then, people will have to throw away the entire package, even though it was infested with just a single weevil.
The most common species that cause economic damage to stored products are:
- Cowpea weevils
- Granary weevils
- Rice weevils
Some weevils are also considered structural pests as they sometimes invade the homes in great numbers. No one wants to have their home full of bugs, regardless if they are harmless or not. They usually invade the homes during the fall, seeking for a shelter over the winter. Then, they leave in the spring searching for food. Other species may also invade in the summer.
Signs of Infestation
When they invade homes looking for shelter, you will find them gathered on the outside of the home. If they find any cracks or openings they will get inside and here you will find them crawling on the walls and windowsills.
You may also find them in your pantry or storage spaces of grains, cereals and the above mentioned food sources. Signs include products with holes, eaten cereals, faeces and cast skins.
How To Prevent Weevils
- Inspect stored products
- Avoid food spillage accumulation
- Also check in attics, walls and chimneys as some infestations have been related to nuts and seeds stored by squirrels or rodents in those places
- Throw away infested foods or decorations (in outdoor trash)
- Vacuum the insects you find inside and then discard the vacuum bag outside
- Clean the cabinets and shelves where infested foods were stored. Use the vacuum first and then clean them with soap and water
- Store dried foods (including pet food and birdseed) in glass or plastic containers that have a tight lid. Even if some of the foods are already infested, the insects will be contained inside and not spread to other bags or containers
- Consider storing cereals and similar foods in the fridge
- Consume older food products and avoid storing them for too long. Products bought in large quantities that are stored for long periods of time are more likely to get infested
If none of the prevention methods work and the infestation gets out of hand, then it’s time to call a specialist.
Get Rid of Weevils Now
If your home or yard are seriously infested by these insects, then it’s time to call a specialist! Safeguard Pest Control is a family owned and operated company that has been operating since 1989. We have extensive knowledge and experience in this field, and can provide you with professional results.
We will begin by inspecting your home and find out where the problem. We will then come up with an action plan and get you informed about the treatment methods and the costs.
Whether you have issues with weevils, earwigs, wasps, moths, bees, termites, lawn grubs, mice, rats, geckos, fleas, mosquitoes, flies, bed bugs, silverfish, pantry pests, beetles or ticks, we are here to help!
Book your Safeguard treatment now by calling 07 5477 6675 or emailing info@safeguardpestcontrol.com.au and allow us to protect your family against these annoying insects.
Use the form below to request a Free Estimate . Requests are answered within 4 hours or less.