How to get rid of grain weevils

Grain weevils, also known as rice weevils, often infest foods stored in kitchen cabinets such as flour, grains, spices, sugar or candy. There are many common cereal weevils such as rice weevils, flour weevils, ghost butterflies. If an infestation of this pest is detected, it is important that you clear the infestation and take precautions to prevent them from reappearing.

Table of Contents

Clean up infestations

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Check all food containers in the kitchen cupboards for grain weevils. Cereal weevils and rice weevils are tiny brown or black bugs. The ghost butterfly is gray with brown and brass-colored wings. Also, look for silk webs left by ghost moth larvae. ^{[1] X Research Source}

Pay special attention to bags of flour, rice and other grains.
Remember that these weevils can be hard to spot right away, so it’s a good idea to turn the cereal over or pour it onto a baking tray to check. ^{[2] X Research Source}
Don’t assume that food in unopened packaging is free of weevils. Many types of cereal weevils can squeeze through very small crevices to find food.

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Discard all infested food and opened bags. If you’ve found an infestation, it’s a good idea to throw out all opened food bags in your kitchen cabinets as well. Even if you don’t see the weevils, chances are high that they have laid eggs in opened food bags. ^{[3] X Research Sources}

If you really don’t want to throw away all opened bags of food, you can freeze bags for 3-4 days where you don’t see any weevils to kill the larvae. ^{[4] X Research Sources}

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Take out everything in the kitchen cabinets and vacuum the cabinets. Be sure to vacuum every shelf, corner, and crevice in the cabinet with the tip of the vacuum hose. This will suck up any remaining weevils and their cocoons, as well as any scattered grains.

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Clean the shelves with soap and warm water and a clean rag or sponge. This step is to clean up unvaccinated grains, dust, and mites or cocoons. Remember to clean every nook and cranny in the cabinet. ^{[5] X Research Sources}

Wash food containers with soap and water before putting them back in the fridge.

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Wipe down all shelves with a solution of 1 part vinegar to 1 part water. Vinegar acts as a repellent to prevent the return of cereal weevils. Vinegar will also kill any bugs still lurking in the kitchen cabinets! ^{[6] X Research Source}

Do not use pesticides, bleach or ammonia to clean the cabinet. These substances work to prevent insect infestation but are dangerous if they get on food. ^{[7] X Research Sources}

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Take the trash out of the house immediately. Tie up all garbage bags that you have thrown contaminated food out of the house. If you leave these bags in the kitchen, chances are your kitchen cabinets will be re-infested with termites. ^{[8] X Research Sources}

Kitchen trash cans also need to be washed with soap and water.
Remove trash from the kitchen regularly to reduce the risk of attracting grain weevils.
If you have spilled insect-infested food into the shredder, run it under hot running water for 1 minute. ^{[9] X Research Source}

Prevent weevils infection

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Immediately clean up food and drink crumbs that have fallen on countertops, cabinets, and floors. Always keep the stove and kitchen cabinets as clean as possible. The longer the spilled food and drink are left, the greater the risk of cereal beetles coming in search of food. ^{[10] X Research Source}

Use soap and water or a kitchen counter-spray spray and a clean rag or sponge to wipe away stains.

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Choose to buy packaged foods that have their packaging intact. Check the packaging of dry produce to make sure they are not open before taking them home. Just a small hole or tear in the packaging is enough for weevils to get in. ^{[11] X Research Source}

Try to buy flour, rice, and other grains that are just 2-4 months old. The longer the food is left in the kitchen cabinet, the more likely it is that the food will be infested with insects. ^{[12] X Research Source}

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Store food in tightly closed glass jars, plastic containers, or tins. Buy good food storage containers that can be sealed tightly to store grains and other foods. Remember that weevils can get through very small crevices, so sealed boxes are your most trusted ally.

Manson jars (Glass jars with tight-fitting lids) are great for storing cereal and other foods, and they look great in the kitchen cabinets too!
If there’s something in the kitchen cabinet that can be stored in the fridge, put it in the fridge to prevent termites.

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Place bay leaves in your kitchen cupboards and in jars or food storage bags to repel ghost moths. Spread bay leaves on kitchen cabinets or put a few leaves in food containers. Put a few bay leaves in opened bags or jars of rice, flour, and other grains. ^{[13] X Research Source}

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Clean the kitchen cabinets periodically every 3-6 months. Even if you’re not infested with weevils, it’s a good idea to remove everything in your kitchen cabinets and throw away old foods that could attract weevils. Wash the shelves with soap and warm water, then wipe them with a half-water, half-vinegar solution. ^{[14] X Research Source}

If the infestation recurs, call a professional pest control service to deal with and prevent the problem.

Scott McCombe

Pest control specialist

Scott McCombe is the CEO of Summit Environmental Sputions (SES), a family-owned company specializing in pest control, animal control and soundproofing solutions for homes in Northern Virginia. Founded in 1991, SES is rated A+ by the Business Improvement Council and has been awarded “Best of the Best 2017”, “Top Rated Professional” and “Elite Service Award” by HomeAdvisor.

Scott McCombe
Pest control specialist

Pesticides can be helpful in dealing with weevil infestations. Set up pheromone traps that specialize in the treatment of cereal weevils to disrupt their reproductive cycle. If needed, you can use targeted, limited residual insecticides and insect growth regulators (IGRs).

Steps

Clean up infestations

Prevent weevils infection

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