If you’ve ever found tiny brown bugs in your flour, rice, or other dry goods, you’ve probably had a run-in with weevils. These pests are small but mighty, and once they infest your pantry, getting rid of them can be a real challenge.
So why do weevils end up in your food in the first place? And how can you prevent them from coming back? Keep reading to find out.
Where Do Stored Product Weevils Come From?
The weevils are destructive pests that are most often brought into homes in infested food products. For example, if you buy a bag of rice from a store that’s already infested with weevils, those bugs will likely hatch and lay eggs in your pantry. Once the eggs hatch, the larvae will start to feed on any other dry goods they can find, and before you know it, your entire pantry is infested.
Another way they can make their way into your home is by hitchhiking in on other insects. For example, if you have an infestation of flour beetles, those beetles may also bring weevil eggs into your pantry. Once the eggs hatch, the weevils will start to multiply and can quickly become a real problem.
You might also bring them into your home unknowingly if you purchase infested food from a farmer’s market or roadside stand. It’s important to inspect any dry goods you buy from these places carefully before bringing them home, as they may be infested with weevils or other pests.
Finally, if you live in an apartment or condo, your neighbors’ weevil infestations can quickly become your own. These pests can easily travel through walls and floors, so even if your pantry is clean, you could still have an infestation if your neighbors have one.
Where Do Weevils Live?
Weevils prefer dark, undisturbed places where they can find plenty of food. That’s why pantries and kitchen cupboards are such popular breeding grounds for these pests. Once weevils have infested an area, they’re tough to get rid of because they reproduce quickly. A single female weevil can lay up to 300 eggs at a time, which will hatch in just a few days.
If they are not in your pantries or kitchen cupboards, you may find them in bags of flour, rice, or other dry goods. You may also get them in bird seed or pet food, dried fruit, spices, or even the occasional piece of furniture.
How Can You Prevent A Stored Product Pest Problem?
The best way to prevent a stored product pest problem is to inspect all food items before you bring them into your home. Don’t buy the product if you see any signs of infestation (for example, small holes in packages or tiny bugs crawling around).
In addition, it’s always a good idea to keep your pantry clean and organized so that you can spot an infestation early on and take care of it before it gets out of control.
Use tight-air containers to store dry goods like flour, sugar, and cereal.
Keep all food items off the floor, and don’t forget to vacuum and clean under appliances and other hard-to-reach places regularly.
Try to buy only the dry goods you’ll need for a few months to rotate your stock and avoid keeping food in your pantry for too long. And if you end up with an infestation, carefully clean your pantry and all food items before restocking it with new products.
What Should You Do If You Have A Stored Product Pest Problem?
If you think you might have a stored product pest problem, you should first check all of the food in your pantry for signs of infestation. If you find any infested products, throw them away immediately. Then, take a close look at your other food items and pantry staples to see if they show any damage.
If you find that your pantry is infested, it’s essential to take care of the problem right away. Otherwise, the infestation will only get worse, and you’ll waste a lot of food.
There are a few different ways to get rid of weevils and other stored product pests. If there are signs of weevils in your pantry, you can try using a vacuum cleaner to suck them up or place infested food items in the freezer for a few days to kill the pests.
However, if your infestation is particularly bad, you may need to call in a professional Athens, GA pest control company to help you get rid of the pests for good.
Our expert team at American Pest Control in Northeast Georgia can assist you in completely ridding your home of weevils to ensure that your kitchen is safe for food preparation. The exterminators will work quickly and efficiently to remove the pest problem with minimal disruption.
Our certified pest experts will work with you to find the best solution for your needs. Simply fill out this form for a free, no-obligation estimate.
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