How to Keep Weevils Out of Grains

Weevil-infested grain should be disposed of immediately.

A weevil infestation in your grain could spell disaster for your pantry. Eradicating grain weevils as soon as possible is important to prevent further infestation and damage to your grain. Grain weevils may infest large amounts of stored grain or even a small bag purchased from the store. These pint-sized pests lay eggs inside a kernel, where their offspring live inside and eat the wheat kernel until reaching adulthood, which may take months depending on the climate. Once fully grown, the grain weevil emerges from the kernel to mate and start the process all over again.

Things You'll Need

• Glass, metal or heavy plastic storage containers
• Vacuum
• Freezer

Instructions

1. Inspect packaging before buying whenever possible, looking for small holes in the bag and any visible infestation inside. Grain weevils can chew through cardboard and plastic, so holes in such material are often a good indication of infestation.

2. Transport the grain out of the original packaging and into a tightly closed, heavy plastic, glass or metal container. Weevil's can't chew through these stronger materials, making them better suited than thin plastic bags or cardboard boxes. Ensure that the seal is as tight as possible so no pests slide through the seal.

3. Vacuum the areas of your kitchen where you regularly store grain, like the pantry. Ensure you vacuum all small crevices and cracks where weevils may be hiding. Get any spilled grain, which is an easy target for weevils and may already be infested. After vacuuming, empty the vacuum outside, away from your grain.

4. Store the grain in the freezer until use. Grain weevil's can't survive freezing temperatures, so this both prevents infestation and kills any weevils or larvae already present.

5. Discard any clearly infested grain. Even though freezing it will kill the weevils, you still don't want to eat them. If you've already noticed an infestation, consider throwing away any grains not already stored in glass, metal or heavy plastic to be on the safe side.

Tips & Warnings

• Continually inspect your grain after you notice an infestation. Even with the above safety precautions, all it takes is one pregnant female that you've missed and the problem will start all over again.

• Buy small amounts of grain at a time and eat them soon after purchase. The more you have and the longer it stays in storage, the bigger the risks are for infestation.

References

• Washington State University: The Granary Weevil
• University of Nebraska-Lincoln: Insects, Spiders, Mice and More
• The Kitchn: How to Prevent and Get Rid of Grain Weevils