habituate these simple scheme to protect your dried goods from weevils .

Getty Imags / Veni vidi … shoot

Tiny plague can sneak into any dwelling through hidden crevice and opening . weevil , a common beetle variety , are unwelcome visitant sometimes found in dry pantry goodness such as flour , grain , Indian meal , or rice . Although they ’re not easy on the eyes , weevils are relatively harmless to human being and pets because they do n’t carry disease . Still , they are a nuisance , particularly when they see their manner into store food . Here ’s how to get free of weevils and keep them from returning to your cupboards .

grain weevil on chickpeas

Credit:Getty Imags / Veni vidi…shoot

What Are Weevils?

Weevils are beetle belonging to theCurculionidaefamily . They are pocket-size , browned insects around 1/4 - inch long and are known for their stretch snout . There are thousands of weevil metal money , with the common family ones often categorized based on the type of solid food they invade — Timothy Miles Bindon Rice weevil , maize weevils , and granary weevils , for instance . Some species can even fly .

weevil are unremarkably found in teetotal - stored intellectual nourishment products such as rice , grain , seeds , nuts , alimentary paste , flour , cereals , and Indian meal . They inhabit , feed , and reproduce inside — literally within the food — of these common buttery items . Sometimes , weevil are convey into the home because they were packaged within the detail . It ’s difficult to know whether a food item is contaminate because weevil eggs are closely impossible to spot with the defenseless centre .

Weevils can also be found in backyard , gardens , and grassy study , inhabit off flora and fruit tree diagram . out-of-door weevil can make their way inside the plate through cracks in the foundation , windows , and threshold .

How to Get Rid of Weevils

While weevils do n’t carry disease , they can be destructive , and dealing with an plague is unpleasant . Whereas out-of-door weevil , such as thesweet potato weevil , might kill garden flora , stored - in - ware weevil pollute package items with feces , skin cast , and larvae . A weevil plague can be a dear problem because it often give the intact contents of a cupboard uneatable . Here are some option to get disembarrass of weevils for good .

1. Toss Out Compromised Food Items

Do n’t attempt to scavenge the intellectual nourishment if you ’ve spotted a weevil in a nutrient detail . Dispose of the integral mathematical product immediately to forestall the job from worsen or spread out . Seal it closely in a garbage bag and like a shot put it outside to nullify any weevil from returning .

2. Freeze or Heat Any Uncertain Items

If no weevil is spotted in a particular merchandise , but you just thrash about out a neighboring foul bag of Timothy Miles Bindon Rice or texture , freeze the untouched item for at least three to four day . Alternatively , heat the item to at least 140 ° farad for 15 minutes . Heating or cooling items for these periods toss off any weevil , nut , or pupa .

3. Thoroughly Vacuum

After vacate the cabinets or larder where there once were weevils , thoroughly hoover the area . Do n’t miss the corner , edge , fuck possibility , and crevices . Afterward , take the vacuum bag and filter outside . Dispose of them immediately to prevent unrecorded weevil from sneak back into the cupboards .

4. Wipe Down the Area

Clean and disinfect the arena before returning nutrient items to the larder or storage quad . Use red-hot , soapy water orwhite vinegarto wipe down the intact surface area , include ledge , doors , and storage containers .

5. Avoid Chemicals

Unless it ’s a product specified as food - good , avoid chemical treatment . Most chemical substance at - home liquidation options for pests are not food - secure . If the plague is so bad that you must call a professional exterminator , let them propose the best method acting to handle the problem .

6. Use Sticky Yraps

If you ’ve had weevil before , take a proactive approach and use gummy maw . place a few homemade or commercial-grade sticky maw in the corner can effectively catch weevil during an infestation . Check the label to confirm that the traps are non - toxic for humans and safe to be placed in larder .

How to Prevent Weevils from Coming Back

A few simple-minded and natural strategies can protect your cupboard from a weevil infestation .