There are many pantry pests which can infest homes and businesses. Though Meal Moths, Grain Beetles and Flour Beetles are very common, Weevils are just as likely to be the unwanted insect in such areas. Weevils are small and easy to kill, but they can complete their life cycle quickly. Adult females will start laying eggs almost immediately so once you have some activity in a structure, it is sure to blossom into a problem which will need attention. Found throughout the world, Weevils are a pest which can be controlled like many other pantry pests. Find the route of entry, discard infested food or belongings and treat with both residual insecticides and traps.
WEEVIL BIOLOGY
Weevils are a small insect, about 1/16 to 1/8 of an inch long. They are mostly brown to black in color and can have spots on their thorax and abdomen. As the name implies, they like rice. However, Weevils can be found eating just about anything in the home. More common food stuff they like include seeds of all types, dried beans, cotton, nuts, cereal, any wheat product, corn, flour, pasta, bread and other grain products found in any home. But their tastes don’t end in the pantry. Weevils will readily feed on cotton fabric found in furniture and clothing. Since they love dried flowers and plants, decorative ornaments found in the home such are wreathes and dried flower arrangements can harbor and feed local populations. It is not uncommon to find them living in or on Christmas ornaments, dried flower collections and stored clothing. Furthermore, adults love apples, pears, grapes and other fruits found in and around homes. Since they are great flyers, it is not uncommon for them to fly their way into any home hot on the scent of some fruit or grain.
Weevils start their life as a small caterpillar like larva which hatches on some type of food like a wheat grain, seed or nut. Eggs will hatch within a couple of days of being laid and feed immediately. Feeding will occur for 1-3 weeks and then larva will spin a cocoon in which they will pupate to an adult. Pupation takes about 1 week at which time adults will emerge. 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 they fly well and are small, rice weevils can move throughout the home easily finding all kinds of things to eat. Adult females wills start laying eggs within 3 days of emerging from their pupa cocoons. Most will lay 300-600 eggs during their 3-6 month life span. Since rice weevils can grow from egg to egg laying adult in less than one month, they can be a formidable foe in and around the home. If you suspect you have rice weevil activity, there are several things you must do to knock out current activity and insure new populations won’t quickly emerge.
WEEVIL CONTROL PROGRAM
Here are the guidelines and treatments which are needed.
1) First, empty all cabinets, shelves and closets where they have been seen or thought to exist. Any food stuff which has them active must be discarded in sealed plastic bags. This will help contain them until the garbage is picked up. If you are not sure if something has activity, store it in a plastic bag and check it every week. If there are any Weevils in it they will try to get out within a few weeks. If some are found, throw it away immediately. Since this pest is temperature tolerant, don’t waste your time trying to freeze adults, eggs or larva. Though you can certainly kill some of them by freezing, you’ll need to keep the material stored in sub zero temps for a week or two to have a significant impact. The average refrigerator/freezer found in most homes gets down to just 20-25 degrees Fahrenheit. In other words, they aren’t nearly cold enough to provide a fast and complete kill. Plus, do you really want to be feeding your family something that’s laced with dead rice weevils? Probably not. In most cases, it’s best to discard anything found to have live activity. This insures you won’t be feeding family members a mouthful of bugs.
WEEVIL CONTROL TREATMENTS
Once the infested product is discarded, you’re just about ready to treat. We always suggest that you first vacuum of all the closets, shelves, cupboards, pantries and baseboards about to be sprayed. This definitely will remove eggs which are too small for the eye to see. Weevils lay eggs with a glue like excretion which helps to attach them to surfaces where food is likely to be available. This helps to keep them in place and vacuuming will help to remove some.
WEEVIL CONTROL AEROSOL SPRAY
2) Once everything has been removed from the cabinets and they have been vacuumed, you can start treatments. The first product to use is DFORCE AEROSOL. This comes in a spray can with a straw attachment which makes it ideal for applying to cracks and crevices where both adults and larva like to reside. Be sure to get as many as you have – not just where you think beetles may be hiding. Weevils are small, fast and quick to hide when ever people are around disturbing where they have been feeding. Many will go unnoticed and missed so it is best to treat every cabinet to be sure you get proper coverage. Let the treatment dry for 1 hour and all dishes and food stuff can then go back away without hazard to people or pets.
WEEVIL CONTROL LIQUID SPRAY
3) Now that the cabinets and pantry areas have been treated, you may have to treat other areas of the home if activity has been noted. Laundry rooms, garages, basements and other areas where pet food and grain products like grass seed are stored are prime locations for Weevils to reside. One or two rooms like this will be easy to treat with Dforce but if you have several which need an application, get some of our PERMETHRIN which will be much more effective and thorough for large applications. Apply it with one of our PUMP SPRAYERS which will allow you to get good coverage quickly. Focus in on baseboards, moldings and floor joists if accessible. Since rodenticide is one of their favorite foods, be sure to check any bait placements you have done in the last couple of years. Attics are common areas where Weevils thrive and then find their way inside living areas. If you have an attic with rodenticide, be sure to remove any suspected of feeding Weevils and treat with Permethrin to insure migrating adults won’t be able to find their way inside.
WEEVIL CONTROL TRAPS
4) Now that you have treated all cabinets, pantries, rooms and baseboards where adults may be hiding, install some of our WEEVIL PHEROMONE TRAPS in any area where you have or suspect activity. These traps use strong pheromones or sex attractants to lure adults and will do a good job of capturing weevils as long as you’ve done a thorough treatment with Dforce.The treatment makes them vulnerable to the traps as it will make them weak and eager to find more food.
And once they crawl or fly into the holding tray, the thick catching oil will hold them for good. Set these traps in the back of any shelf or cabinet area. They are quite discreet and easy to conceal but the beetles will assuredly find them. Be sure to place some in any room where activity has been noted and as a general rule, try to get at least one per shelf. These traps will remain active for 1-2 months quite well. However, you will need to replace them once they fill with insects so be sure to inspect them weekly if you have had a lot of activity.
Weevils can be a persistent pest once they are established in the home. To break their life cycle, you will need to remove any food which is infested. Next, clean and vacuum all cabinets or closets where they have been found. Treat with Dforce Aerosol to kill off hatching larva and migrating adults. The Dforce will provide several weeks of protection should any new eggs hatch or if any new adults come into the area. Plus, it’s important to treat with the Dforce to get the traps working. Now if you have weevils throughout the home, treat with the Permethrin to get better coverage. Finally, set some of the Pheromone based traps out in cabinets and pantries where activity has been noted. Be sure to keep the traps fresh so they are always helping by catching adults before they mate and try to reproduce. This program will help to break the cycle so that it will eventually run it’s course and disappear.
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Comments on WEEVIL CONTROL
sipho @ 6:17 am
How do you treat weevils in a shed or warehouse filled with maize grain bags. Where the maize is already affected but can not be discarded and needed to feed people?
Tech Support @ 7:43 am
The most common products used are a straight Pyrethrin or Exempt IC (which is made mostly from food and plant actives). Both are labeled for use in food processing plants with the only restriction being that you must “cover” the food. Since the grain is stored in bags, technically it’s already covered (the label is mostly referring to open bins of grain and other food). We still recommend placing a tarp over the bags to insure there is no contamination.
Exciter: http://www.bugspraycart.com/insecticide/liquid/exciter-16-oz
ECO IC: http://www.bugspraycart.com/exempt/liquid/eco-excempt-gal
The best way to apply either is with a fogging machine like one of these:
FM6309: http://www.bugspraycart.com/equipment/foggers/fogmaster-6309-120-v
fabric @ 4:39 am
Recommendations on how to treat fabric? Infestation started in a bag of wheat stored in same cupboard as various fabric types, they have spread throughout (but don’t seem to be feeding on fabric)
Thanks.
Tech Support @ 7:56 am
In fact there are many common pantry pests which can readily move onto and eventually nest on fabric. And this list is growing every day. Mostly due to the fact that “eco friendly” manufacturing processes are now incorporating many types of organic and food grade ingredients, materials used for furniture, decorations and clothing can many times have a substantial amount of what these pests consider to be “food”. Naked to the eye, these components will both lure and feed fast eating larvae. Because of this change in manufacturing, we’re finding the range of pests which infest clothing and fabric has expanded to include many more household insects including weevils. Fortunately they’re easy to treat.
To both protect and sanitize any fabric or furniture which is showing unwanted activity such as foraging weevils, lightly mist it down with some PT-Microcare or Permethrin. The Microcare is a ready to spray aerosol and ideally designed for small areas and needs. It’s fine for use on fabric, furniture and basically anything weevils might target. It won’t stain or discolor the fabric and when used properly, won’t be noticeable.
Permethrin comes in a liquid concentrate you’ll need to mix with water to spray. It will last longer compared to the Microcare, be a liquid compared to the aerosol form of the Microcare and will cover a lot more of an area too. Better suited for large areas, the Permethrin will work on the young and adult weevils and since it has a residual that can last 3-4 weeks, it will provide long term protection to prevent any damage happening from hatching eggs.
PT-Microcare: http://www.bugspraycart.com/insecticide/aerosol/pt-micro-care-16-oz
Permethrin 10: http://www.bugspraycart.com/insecticide/liquid/permethrin-10
Bedroom @ 9:51 pm
3 days ago I found weevils in my dog’s food kept in the garage on the 1st floor. However, I first noticed them in my bedroom on the 2nd floor. They seem to like the sunny areas on the carpet. How can they get up there and how do they survive? We never eat food on the 2nd floor of our home. I’ve cleaned out my cupboards and have tossed everything. What can I do to keep them out of my bedroom and why are they going there?
Thanks!!
Tech Support @ 11:00 pm
There are many pests that will eat pet food and forage through a home. And trying to determine why this might happen can be a tough task. Remember, carpets and furniture routinely contain natural fabric and common weevils and beetles can thrive on this fabric. This can make the entire home a food supply for any that leave the original infested area like a pantry or cupboard.
To stop the behavior, you’ll need to treat the carpet with the Permethrin we have listed in our article. Commonly used for fleas, Permethrin is odorless and can be applied to the carpets and furniture safely. Broadcast it out over the carpet at the rate of 1 gallon per 800 sq/ft and let it dry for at least 2 hours before walking over it. This will help eliminate the carpet as a nest site as well as kill any migrating over it.
Additionally, you should set out some of the Traps in the cupboards and pantry areas where they were first found. Next, treat all the cracks and crevices in any room with some Dforce Aerosol. It comes with a handy straw for injecting it where weevils like to hide. Weevils are migratory and when the home has a lot of food options, they can easily start nesting anywhere so it’s important you treat all possible nest sites if you want them gone.
Permethrin 10: http://www.bugspraycart.com/insecticide/liquid/permethrin-10
D-Force: http://www.bugspraycart.com/insecticide/aerosol/d-force-14-oz-aerosol
Trap: http://www.bugspraycart.com/traps/pheromone-and-food/3pk-cf-rf-k-rw-st-pp
Rice Problem @ 8:16 pm
Currently I am having an issue with rice weevils which have infested my rice bags. These bags are currently being stored within one of my bedrooms and one bag in the kitchen. After several days I noticed increasing activity of these bugs as they became more and more noticeable within the bedroom crawling all over the mattress and pillows. As for downstairs, I haven’t noticed any activity as of yet which is great news.
I am concerned as to whether I should dispose of the rice or treat it as I have stored quite a large amount. I would also like to seek guidance on how I should approach the problem so that I can quarantine it.
Thank you.
Tech Support @ 9:29 am
Whether you want to discard the rice or save it is up to you as this is a personal decision. We have customers who take drastic action and will discard any food stuff immediately upon finding even one random insect. But in fact most all products like rice, flour, cereals and other grains are legally able to have a certain amount of insects included in their packaging. This is something most any manufacturing plant tries to avoid as it won’t help the sale of their product but it is legally acceptable for some such contaminants to exist.
Now for obvious reasons, most people cringe at the thought of keeping any food item that contains insects. Personally I remember one time where this same pest made my day a bit unsettled. As I commonly did back then, I started my day bright and early with a bowl of granola cereal which unbeknownst to me was infested with rice weevils. I added some milk and consumed several mouthfuls before I glanced down long enough to notice a very consistently shaped bunch of specs floating around on the surface of the milk in my bowl. Looking more carefully at them revealed in fact they were insects and suffice to say, I quickly lost my appetite! But did anything “bad” happen? No.
So in your case, if only 1-2 bags of the rice is infected, the remaining amounts could very well be salvaged. But going through the storage is something you’ll have to do in order to pass judgement on what to keep and what to discard. And in this process, control measures should definitely be employed to both contain the problem and possibly even eliminate it altogether. So here’s what I recommend.
First, as the rice is inspected, it should be removed from the room. Once the room is empty, it should be thoroughly vacuumed. Next, it should be sprayed with the Permethrin 10 listed above. Putting down a solid residual will put in place a residual that will control any weevils that try to forage around the room. This will in turn help prevent any further spreading of this pest. And the best way to spray the room will be to spray all the baseboards and flooring using a fan type pattern. Apply 1 gallon of finished product for every 800 sq/ft. So if you the room is 10×20, you’d have 200 sq/ft to treat which means you’ll only need about 1 quart of finished product. This treatment should be done on a regular basis. Ideally, every 30-45 days to insure no future problems in the room.
Permethrin 10: http://www.bugspraycart.com/insecticide/liquid/permethrin-10
Next, any rice you find infested should be discarded and this includes promptly removing it from the structure. This way the contaminated food stuff can’t “leak” weevils to other parts of the home.
And after the rice is returned to the storage area, you should install some ProStrips. These strips contain slow releasing actives which act as a fumigant on nuisance pests. Commonly used in closets and pantries, they can be deployed in any room where people don’t reside for more than 4 hours a day. So if there is no one using this room most of the time, setting out some Pest Strips would be a great defense to both control and prevent any insect pests from getting into your rice. And there is no need to worry about contaminating the rice with these strips; they don’t provide any residual so as soon as the rice is removed from the room, it will be free of the product and safe to consume. The Pro Strips are a great way to protect food items being stored in cupboards, closets, pantries and any room used for storage that has had a history of insect activity.
Pro Strips: http://www.bugspraycart.com/repellents/fumigant/nuvan-prostrips.html
Anne Marshall @ 2:02 pm
For three summers in a row, my house is covered with bean weevils. I spend considerable time sweeping them up and ousting them. They are not originating inside the house, but I fear they will lay eggs inside. All grains, flours, fruit, etc. are locked up tight and clean.
I suspect they are laying eggs in the gardens around the house.
What can I do?
Tech Support @ 2:36 pm
You can treat. There are two options that should be employed to stop this from happening.
The first would be to protect the home. Spraying as much of the outside siding with Cypermethrin will put in place a protective barrier on which the weevils cannot rest or nest. Treatments would last 4-6 weeks and should be renewed throughout the weevil’s active season. Use a standard Pump Sprayer or Hose End Sprayer to apply it and expect to use 3-4 gallons to treat the exterior adequately.
Cypermethrin: http://www.bugspraycart.com/insecticide/liquid/viper-cypermethrin
Eliminator: http://www.bugspraycart.com/equipment/sprayers/eliminator-gallon-sprayer
Hose End Sprayer: http://www.bugspraycart.com/equipment/sprayers/gilmour-20g-390
The second option is to target the weevils where they’re nesting. Edible plants can host all kinds of weevils so treat plants suspected of weevil activity with Organic Multi Purpose Insect Killer. This product is approved for organic gardening and won’t pose a hazard to people or the vegetables but will take care of nuisance pests.
Organic Insect Killer: http://www.bugspraycart.com/organic/liquid/multi-purpose-insect-killer-24-oz
Sandra Heffner @ 1:55 pm
My son brought a bag of corn feed into his room and the weevils started coming out of the bags. We removed the bag of feed and sprayed with black flag and raid. Is there any other thing else we can use? I have found them all over my house.
Tech Support @ 4:42 pm
You really need to treat with the Permethrin listed in our article above if you’re seeing them throughout the home. This treatment will provide the kind of residual you need and will work a lot better compared to any aerosol.
Permethrin 10: http://www.bugspraycart.com/insecticide/liquid/permethrin-10
I also suggest you set out some Weevil Traps to help catch and monitor any activity the spray misses.
Trap: http://www.bugspraycart.com/traps/pheromone-and-food/3pk-cf-rf-k-rw-st-pp
Maria V. @ 5:47 pm
We got weevils in our pantry from a bag of gabanzo beans that was just 1-2 wks old! We threw almost everything out, but did keep a few things like canned goods and inspected other items and have them in containers now just in case. We cleaned it thoroughly per your and other sites instructions and haven’t put anything back in the pantry. We haven’t seen any weevils there in a few days but I have found one in our dining room (next to kitchen where pantry is) and living room (also next to kitchen). We have a 14 mos old girl that crawls and walks all over and haven’t considered sprays or insecticides. Is there anything safe to use with a baby??? Thanks!
Tech Support @ 6:12 pm
I suggest that you at least set out some Weevil Traps. These can be placed where your child can’t get to them but because of the lure these traps have, any weevils close by will naturally get curious find even the most “out of the way” trap placement. These will no doubt help you to at least locate any focal point where a problem might still exist that needs further attention.
Trap: http://www.bugspraycart.com/traps/pheromone-and-food/3pk-cf-rf-k-rw-st-pp
Now if you end up catching 5 or more in any one trap, you should consider doing some kind of treating. And one of the safest sprays we have is an all natural product most commonly used for Bed Bugs. It uses diatomaceous earth, cinnamon oil and other natural ingredients as actives so it poses no hazard to people or pets. Now even though it doesn’t say weevils on it’s label, I’m 100% sure it will handle them so if you have to use something, this would be the way to go for treating baseboards, carpets, etc.
Bed Bug Rid: http://www.bugspraycart.com/exempt/liquid/bed-bug-rid-exempt-liquid-insect-killer
humnbird @ 7:52 pm
Thanks. Was treating for gnats found in and around house plants. Was great to be guided to the real problem. Checked the pantry. WEEVILS
Maria V. @ 8:28 am
Great. Thank you. I will try these options.
@Tech Support:
Christie @ 10:21 am
After returning from vacation we started to notice these little brown bugs randomly around the house, some dead, some alive. After researching them on the internet, I have determined that they are weevils. I don’t know where they are coming from. I have thrown out anything in the pantry that they could possibly have gotten into. I really don’t think that’s where they’re coming from though. I have seen very few of them in the kitchen and those were walking across the floor, not in the cabinets. They are mostly in our living areas, which are connected to our front and back doors. I have noticed them on the outside of the window in both of these areas. Could these be acorn weevils? We have a lot of oak trees. I really feel they are coming from outside, but why would they be coming in the house and how do I get rid of them? I would appreciate any advice you could give.
Tech Support @ 1:38 pm
We need to see one of these to know for sure what you have. A close up photo might help so you can try sending us one. But ideally if can mail us a sample or get a pest id from a local pest control company or extension agent. Service companies will do this free of charge as will any local county extension office entomologist. Once we know what this pest is, we’ll be able to best advise on how to get rid of them.
tina acton @ 4:31 am
Came home after being gone for 21 days to little brown moths all in my pantry. Lots of them . Are these weevils? Can’t even open the pantry door. Help me please.
Tech Support @ 8:32 am
Sounds like Meal Moths. Read our article on this pest to better acquaint yourself with them. For now, vacuum out any of the adult moths you see. Next, try to find the infested food item that must be in the pantry and discard it. Lastly, get the Moth Traps and Dforce Aerosol listed in our article and treat as explained.
Meal Moth Traps: http://www.bugspraycart.com/traps/pheromone-and-food/meal-moth-2-pk
D-Force: http://www.bugspraycart.com/insecticide/aerosol/d-force-14-oz-aerosol
Meal Moth Control: http://www.indianmealmoths.com/meal-moth-control
Lauren @ 10:23 pm
Help!! I am manufacturing wheat bags and have just found weavles inside a bag of wheat I was going to use. What is the best way to treat the wheat before I start filling the wheat bags?
Tech Support @ 11:55 pm
There are only a few products listed for food items in wheat plants and the best one is Evergreen Pyrethrin. It can be sprayed or misted over the product and will knock out any pest found in wheat.
Evergreen: http://www.bugspraycart.com/insecticide/liquid/exciter-16-oz
Cece @ 1:09 am
I desperately need your advise! I’m so tired of throwing out bags of rice, flour or cereals when ever I find a weevel in them. I feel guilty about the waste but am disgusted at the site of the bugs in my food products and even more disgusted when I realize I might have eaten some. lol My husband is from Africa and tells me that weevels are common there and not considered disgusting if you happen too eat one or two or three or four. lol He makes me feel guilty for throwing away food and not having the stomach to finish a meal after the weevels have been spotted. lol What I want to know is if I eat them can I get sick and do they pass any disease or germs such as roaches? I had never heard of weevel free products till I read your site. Where can they be purchased? And can weevels still reenter those packages if say the pantry has weevels? Also where can the sprays and traps to kill them be purchased? Please help!!! Thank you.
Tech Support @ 9:34 am
@Cece: Weevils aren’t what we consider to be a “dirty” insect so there is no need to worry about ingesting a few. They tend to spend their time in or on food and in all the cases I’ve heard where people have eaten some by mistake, in no case did it cause a problem.
As for how to get “weevil free”? That can be accomplished by following the guidelines outlined in our article above. First, remove everything from your pantry. Next, discard anything you suspect could be harboring weevils. Next, vacuum the pantry thoroughly and then give it a good treatment with Dforce Aerosol.
D-Force: http://www.bugspraycart.com/insecticide/aerosol/d-force-14-oz-aerosol
After letting the treatment settle for an hour or two, you can restock it with your stored food items.
Lastly, set out some Weevil Traps to help collect any weevils your treatment missed. These traps will also help you to monitor the problem so you can determine if it’s getting better, worse, etc.
Trap: http://www.bugspraycart.com/traps/pheromone-and-food/3pk-cf-rf-k-rw-st-pp
If you follow this regime, you should be able to solve this matter in a few weeks.
Vashawn @ 2:15 am
What is the life span of them? I’m finding them dead prior to treating the problem.
Vashawn @ 2:17 am
I found one in my bedroom and laundry room will I need to throw out my clothes or just wash them?
Tech Support @ 8:38 am
3-6 months. Details are above in the “biology” section of our rice weevil control article:
http://www.bugspray.com/catalog/products/page1175.html#rice-weevil-biology
Now if you’re finding them dead around a cabinet or in one room, treating all the cracks and crevices with some Dforce or Phantom aerosol would be the recommended method of treatment to treat. This will insure the foraging adults are not able to lay eggs which will prosper elsewhere in the home if you allow them free access. Adults will die after mating and laying eggs and if you’re finding dead adults, there is a good chance they’re expanding their territory.
D-Force: http://www.bugspraycart.com/insecticide/aerosol/d-force-14-oz-aerosol
Phantom: http://www.bugspraycart.com/insecticide/aerosol/pt-phantom-17-5oz
But if you’re finding them distributed throughout the home, treat instead with some Permethrin. It’s a concentrate (not an aerosol like the Dforce or Phantom) that can be mixed with water and applied using a Pump Sprayer. This will prove more cost efficient when treating larger areas; the aerosols are okay when the area involved is small.
Permethrin 10: http://www.bugspraycart.com/insecticide/liquid/permethrin-10
Eliminator: http://www.bugspraycart.com/equipment/sprayers/eliminator-gallon-sprayer
Tech Support @ 8:42 am
No need to throw anything away but washing would be in order. First, I’d remove any loose laundry, clothes bins, etc. and treat with one of the products I just recommended you use. And the treatment dries (1-2 hours), I’d say to go back to your normal wash routine. This will insure any eggs laid on your clothing will be removed.
The key here is getting a good treatment in place because once that’s done, it won’t much matter in the long run if you see any in the laundry room because this will effectively stop them from being able to expand their area. In fact, this treatment could very well knock them out for good.