How Do I Get Rid of Weevils?

Updated on October 07, 2010
J.P. asks from Newcastle, CA
9 answers

I am going crazy and cannot get rid of these stupid things. Do I need to throw out ALL of my dried products and start over? I already switched which cabinet that I keep these products in. I am just at my whits end. I never had a problem with these so bad until recently when we moved to a new home. I have a 2 month old and an 18 month old, so I really don't want to be using any harsh pesticides. HELP!! LOL ~

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N.D.

answers from Sacramento on

Hi Janine -
Yes, you have to get rid of everything. EVERYTHING. It is expensive but what a great way to freshen up those spices. I have had to do this twoce and I suggest making a list of what you throw out so you can replace it - I can't tell you how many times I have started a recipe becuase I "knew" I had the right spices on hand - and then they weren't really there. Argh! Good luck. But really, do get rid of everything dry or you will end up doing it all over again.
Best regard,
N.

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T.H.

answers from San Francisco on

Throw it all away. Wash all containers in the dishwasher with hot hot water.
Clean entire cabinet with a mixture (approximately) of 40% alcohol, 40% water, and 20%water. (go to www.askthebugman.com for lots of pest control ideas.)

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M.P.

answers from Modesto on

Ughhh I have no suggestions but I will say I woke up STARVING and was going to have a bowl of cereal, then I read this and now I'm terrified to eat anything at all. I don't know how I'm going to eat food in my house from now on!!

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S.B.

answers from Dallas on

Thanks to my husband's home brewing hobby we got a horrible infestation. I mean horrible...he stores things in his office (50 lb bags of grain), so they migrated from there. We put everything in sealed containers...bought some cheapy gladware knock off stuff from Walmart. Storing things in the freezer will keep them at bay too. We also found a botanical, food safe bug spray made by raid. After sealing everything, so the smell wouldn't affect the food and the stuff that was clear of bugs stayed that way, we sprayed our pantry and rooms that had the creepy crawlies. We wound up spraying twice, about a week apart and then we were bug free. Fortunately, weevils are merely a nuisance bug.

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J.B.

answers from Sacramento on

Yes you need to throw everything out, because they probably laid eggs in everything they could get into. Once the eggs hatch, the larvae start looking for things to eat. They love the glue on the cardboard boxes & bags. Weevils are most commonly in flour or corn meal. Switching cabinets isn't going to solve your problem, cause you just moved them from one spot to another.

You need to put everything in air tight containers, no oxygen, no life. Screw on tops are not air tight.

Tupperware is the best for all your kitchen storage/food needs. I haven't had any weevils in over 20 years using Tupperware.

It is an investment, it has a lifetime guarantee, and with the money you save by not throwing out food repeatedly more than makes up for the cost, not to mention your sanity.

I could help you get the products you need for low cost or no cost depending on what works best for you.

Here is my website: www.my.tupperware.com/jillburg

As for pesticides I would call a professional company and get the facts.

Best wishes on your solutions.

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D.P.

answers from Pittsburgh on

How Can I Control Weevils?
* Infested bait should always be discarded since pantry pests breed in them, too.
* Never mix your newly-bought food with the old stuff. The infested products will affect the other food.
* If your packaged goods are infested, the weevils may be coming from the warehouse or the food processing factory or plantation. If this is the case, don't buy the item if its seal is broken or the package itself is damaged. You can also exchange the broken package for another O., especially if you see it before you leave the store. Broken packages are more likely to be infested than those perfectly sealed.
* To make sure that food is free of pests, store it for a whole month in clear bags, since some adults need more time to emerge anyway.
* If you are going to store food in a container, make sure that the container is clean. Wash it before putting fresh food in it. If not, then contamination may take place, paving way to another case of infestation.
* Clean your shelves regularly to prevent infestation. This way, there is a higher chance that you can get rid of pantry pests. Make sure that you practice periodic cleaning because weevils do not need a lot of food. They can live with just a very small amount of grain or cereals to reproduce, breed and live.

* There will be times when you don't know if an item is infected or not. Control weevils by placing the pack of food in an area where you will easily see them if they come.
* If you have already opened a bag of, say, oats or cereal, then keep it in storage places or containers with tight-fitting lids. Bulk foods like pet foods must also be stored in a container with a lid that’s tight-fitting.
* Some pantry pests breed in the homes of insects and rodents, so get rid of these nests if you see them.
* You have to ensure that storage units and cabinets are tight and clean.
* Do not underestimate the power of dry storage units. Moisture contributes a lot in the development of pantry pests.
* Pantry pests gather in a bag. There is no way you cannot see the pests accumulating in it. Once you see the pantry pests, immediately discard the contaminated foodstuff.

Weevils aren't difficult to deal with. You just need to remember these tips. Clean your storage bins, check the items you buy from the grocery, and see to it that they don't have broken seals. Enjoy eating good and clean food without these pests and make your home and your health safe.

What Are Weevils?

Weevils are beetles that come from the Curculionoidea superfamily. They are typically small and do not grow more than ¼ inch or 6 millimeters. Weevils are herbivorous species feeding only on herbs, plants, and crops you planted. If you have heard your neighbor complain about snout beetles, then he or she is definitely talking about weevils. Weevils are sometimes called that because of the shape of their heads.

Where Do I Find Weevils?
Weevils are also known as pantry pests. They cause persistent infestation and they waste food. All types of weevils are destructive, including acorn weevils, granary weevils and rice weevils.

Why Are Weevils Inside My House?
Weevils can get inside the house anytime if the apartment unit next to yours has them. Weevils can also come from outside sources. Another source is the grocery items you bring home. There may be weevils inside the packaged foods that you are bringing inside the house.
Take good care of your grains, cereals, seeds and nuts as these are the targets of weevils. If you want to know where they can be found, check your dry food. You will find some of them hiding there for sure. You may even find weevils when you open a bag of flour. They also like breakfast cereals, barley and oats, so watch out for these pests before eating your food.

To know if weevils are present in a bag of food, look for granules stuck together, as if they have been entangled in a cobweb. Make sure that you do this every time you eat foods that weevils target, because once you ingest them,

you may acquire E. coli infection (!!!!!!!)

among many other possible diseases. The kind of disease that you get from weevils depends on what type of food they feed on.

Don't worry if you're thinking that having weevils inside the home reflects your quality as keeper of the house, because weevils can be moths or beetles. You will find it easiest to find weevils once they reach their adult stage since this is the time when they almost always leave the material they had infested. Weevils also find lights appealing, so it is easy to find weevils in well-lit areas.

O. cause of weevil infestation is when a packaged good has been left opened for a long period of time. If, for example, you opened a bag of oats and left it that way for a few months without touching it again, chances are there will be weevils infesting your goods. Weevils can gather on windows, climb up the surfaces of your home and crawl on your floors just to find their way to your home. It is then important to practice weevil control measures before it gets too late.

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A.T.

answers from Stockton on

I even found bugs in an unopened bag of rice! Eeew! I threw it ALL out - cereal, rice, pasta, breadcrumbs, cornmeal, pancake mix, flour, crackers, EVERYTHINg that had any type of grain in it. Wipe out all of your cabinets with vinegar and then use airtight containers until you don't see any more critters for a month or so and then keep track of expiration dates etc. and only buy things as you need them. Don't get the giant Costco sack of flour unless you're making cookies for the entire neighborhood!
Your only other option is to toss everything and then move out! ;0)

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C.S.

answers from Las Vegas on

Yesterday I learned that used coffee grounds in a jar works. The pests are suppose to crawl in the jar and then they can't get out. Haven't tried it, but she said it really works. Worth a try!

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K.H.

answers from San Francisco on

I had a horrible weevil problem a few years back. Throw out all your dry goods and buy tupperware (or fake tupperware) and put all cereals and cracker type food in them. all flours and anything that can be frozen put in freezer. Wipe all cupboards and shelves with dishwashing soap. I also vacuumed out pantry and haven't had a problem since. I also watch as I pour flour and other items into containers that they aren't infested. I no longer keep any of those items in the freezer they are all in plastic sealable containers. Good Luck

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