Weevils can wobble, but only Brody Brothers Pest Control can make them fall down! These pesky beetles can be disastrous if they find their way into your home.
Weevils are a type of beetle that can be found in the pantries of many homes located in Mount Washington, Maryland. These unique-looking little creatures have very identifiable elongated snouts, which they use to make holes in grains and kernels.
While weevils do not pose medical risks or harm to humans, they can be an annoyance and spoil our food supply. They are attracted to grain products such as rice, pasta, oats, and popcorn, so you’ll find them in cabinets and pantries in the kitchen.
Homeowners can find weevils a nuisance, but it’s grain factories or warehouses that can have a more serious problem if they have a weevil infestation.
In this article, we’ll dive into the two common types of weevils in Mt. Washington, how to keep them out of your home, and what to do if they find their way inside.
Identifying Weevils
There are two types of weevils to be on the lookout for if you live in the Mount Washington area. They are rice weevils and grain weevils. While they are very similar, their appearances differ slightly, as do their preferred source of food.
Rice Weevils
Rice weevils are mostly attracted to rice, as their name implies. However, they also enjoy nibbling on popcorn kernels, pasta, cashews, and dried beans.
They are a reddish-brown color and have four small yellow or red spots on their bodies. They are quite small, measuring at just 1/8th of an inch long. Keep in mind that their long snout makes up about a third of this length.
A fun fact about rice weevils is that they are the only type of weevils that can actually fly!
Grain Weevils
Grain weevils are often found in crop storage facilities and seem to affect the agricultural industry much more than rice weevils. They are attracted to whole grain foods and have no problem chewing through bags and packaging to get to them.
These weevils are also reddish-brown and have an elongated body measuring a little less than ¼ of an inch. As with other weevils, they also have a snout used to eat and create holes in grains.
Grain weevils do have wings, but they’re useless as they cannot fly like the rice weevil.
Life Stages of Weevils
The lifespan of weevils is from six to eight months. Within this lifetime, the females can lay hundreds of eggs, creating quick infestations that can be difficult to get rid of.
When the female reproduces, she makes a hole in a grain or kernel and lays an individual egg inside. She then seals the hole with a sticky secretion until the egg develops into a pupa. Between this time, the larva will eat its way out of the grain.
For rice weevils, this process takes about 18 days. The period between a grain weevil laying an egg to becoming an adult actually depends on the weather. In warmer months, it takes an average of five weeks, while in colder temperatures, it can take 20 weeks.
How to Prevent a Weevil Infestation
There are many very easy things you can do to prevent weevils from entering your home.
The first and most effective thing to do is to check grain products like pasta, right, and oats before bringing them inside your house. Check for holes in the packages and that they are sealed tight. This is the number one way weevils infest homes in Mount Washington.
Avoid keeping large supplies of grain products in your home. If they sit in your pantry for too long, you may not realize you have a weevil infestation until it is too late. Only purchase what you can eat in a couple of weeks.
When you do purchase grain products, it’s a good idea to transfer them into another container to keep in your pantry. Many products come in plastic bags or cardboard boxes, which are easy for weevils to eat through. Instead, store these products in sealed glass, metal, or plastic containers.
Lastly, you can repel weevils naturally by placing bags of black pepper throughout your pantry. The smell will keep them away from the grains you store there.
If you follow all of these steps, you can ensure you’ll never have a weevil problem in your home.
How to Treat a Weevil Infestation
In case you forgot to check your grain product’s packaging or simply weren’t aware of how to prevent weevils from entering your home, there are also easy – yet time-consuming – ways to get rid of them.
The minute you notice weevils crawling around in your food or pantry, throw out all of the food they have contaminated. Go through every package in your pantry or cabinet and inspect for the bugs. It’s important to get rid of everything they could possibly hide in.
When you throw out these products, make sure to put them in a sealed bag and keep them away from your house. Don’t put them in your garage until it’s trash day, as the weevils can wander right back inside.
Next, take a vacuum and go through your pantry or cabinet. Gather all of the bugs left over and crumbs that they may have left behind. Afterward, wipe down the shelves with diluted white vinegar to sanitize and repel the insects.
Avoid using chemicals when getting rid of weevils. It can be more harmful and is often unnecessary when removing these pests. However, there is one very effective way to get rid of them – calling an experienced exterminator.
Weevils Fall When Brody Brothers Show Up
Your uninvited weevils will surely fall to the power of Brody Brothers Pest Control!
With our professional and experienced team using advanced and safe extermination methods and tactics, you can rest assured that your weevil problem will disappear in no time.
Call us today to schedule your weevil extermination consultation and see how we can help you get your pantry back.
