g to the superfamily Curculionoidea, known for their elongated snouts. They are usually small, less than 6 mm in length, and herbivorous. Approximately 97,000 species of weevils are known. They belong to several families, with most of them in the family Curculionidae.
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. They are a temporary nuisance.
There are three common types of weevils found in pantries and cupboards:
- Rice weevil (Sitophilus oryzae)
- Granary or wheat weevil (Sitophilus granarius)
- Maize weevil (Sitophilus zeamais).
These three bugs are not the same weevils that can damage outdoor landscape plants and agricultural crops, but they can create a serious problem in a kitchen food-storage area. These species feed primarily on grains and they are often found in boxes or bags of stored whole-grain cereals or grains. They are most likely to attack raw seed grains; highly processed grain products are not as susceptible. Food products containing raw wheat, oats, rye, barley, rice, and corn are most susceptible to weevils.1
Weevils are fairly small insects, so it is easy to overlook an infestation in your food storage areas. They typically enter a home through products that were infested at a food processing or packaging center. Read on to see how to get rid of weevils so they don’t eat you out of house and home.
What Causes Weevils in Food Storage Areas?
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. 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.
How to Prevent Weevils in Food-Storage Areas
Preventing weevil infestations requires routine inspection of any purchased foods coming into your house, along with periodic inspection of cereal-grain products being kept in your cupboards or pantries. Any foods that are suspect in any way should be discarded.
Some people like to routinely freeze containers of cereal-grain products for four days upon purchase, moving them into cupboard storage only after they have been disinfected in this way. Freezing will kill any weevils that are hitchhiking in commercial packaging. You can even store some of these products permanently in the freezer if you have the room. 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. Before each use in cooking, carefully inspect the grain to ensure there’s no insect activity.
- Do not add new, fresh food to old; and always clean out containers before refilling.
- Store pet foods, birdseed, etc. in buildings away from the house or basement areas well away from other foods.
- Do not purchase bagged or boxed foods with torn or damaged packaging.
- Do not buy bagged or boxed foods that are past their expiration dates.
- Do not overbuy food—just buy what you expect to use quickly. Or store excess in the refrigerator or freezer.
- Keep pantry and other food areas clean and free of crumbs and loose foods. Clean up spills immediately.
- Keep food storage areas dry; weevils are attracted to moisture.
To clear an heavy infestation in commercial premise or home, We do fumigation that involves gases called phosphine gas which clears any infestation. These activities are secure and safe for foods.
Call us today, We are determined to clear all infestations.