A Weevil Infestation: How to Identify One

December 20th, 2018

A Weevil Infestation: How to Identify One

There are many different household pests that have the potential to invade your home at any given moment. If you don’t respond quickly to the signs of an infestation, it could become an out-of-control situation. This is especially true with weevils. This small and stubborn pests can take over your home if you ignore them or fail to call a pest control company immediately.

What Are Weevils?
They are types of beetles found in many shapes and colors. However, their most distinctive feature is the shape of their heads. As an adult, every weevil has an elongated head with a snout. The rice weevil is one type of weevil that commonly appears in homes. They are small black bugs that sneak into the home in grains and pasta.

How to Recognize Them

At just two to three millimeters long, they are very small and stout in appearance. It ranges from reddish-brown to black in color, usually with four light yellow or red spots on the corners of the forewings. Its snout measures an entire millimeter, which accounts for a third of its size.

It’s important to note that this is one of the most widespread stored grain pest worldwide. They originated in India but spread across the globe through trade. The southern United States, with its warm climate, deals with infestations of rice weevils more than any other area of the country. Mature adults feed on whole grains like wheat, oats, corn, barley, rye, and even other items like cashew nuts, cereal, and macaroni.

How to Get Rid of a Infestation

If you believe that you have rice weevils in your house, the single most important component of eradication is finding the source of the infestation. They are known to move beyond the cabinets and pantry, so an exhaustive inspection is necessary to find all bug locations. Extreme heat and cold can both kill weevils once they are discovered, as can special sprays and other applications.

This isn’t a job to do alone, so it’s important to contact an experienced and environmentally responsible pest control company like Green Solutions Lawn Care & Pest Control. Green Solutions serves the Tampa Bay area with the best family-friendly pest control services, so call (813) 684-7336 today to learn more.