The holiday season is upon us, so it’s time to dig through the pantry and pull out all those baking supplies. It’s a great time of year, unless your pantry digging reveals some unwanted holiday guests. Rice weevils are one of many pantry pests that could end up in your home. Adult rice weevils lay eggs in food, especially grains and cereals. You may not realize there are weevils in your food until the eggs hatch and suddenly your pantry is crawling. Let’s take a closer look at these unwanted pests and find out how to keep them out of your baking supplies this holiday season.
About Rice Weevils
Rice weevils can be identified by a long and distinct snout. They’re very small and can range in color from reddish to black. Adult rice weevils can fly, and have yellow, orange, or red dots on their wings. Female rice weevils lay eggs in food. If you have weevils in your home, you probably brought them in from the grocery store without seeing the eggs. Rice weevils aren’t particularly dangerous, but they do contaminate food. If you find rice weevils in your pantry, you’ll need to take everything out to look for any other packages that may have been contaminated. You should toss all food that has had weevils feeding on it.
Preventing Rice Weevils
There are some steps you can take to prevent rice weevils from getting in your home. The first step is to store your food in airtight containers. Glass or thick plastic containers will protect your stored food from weevils and other pests. Never leave food in plastic bags or cardboard boxes, since pests can easily get inside and lay their eggs.
The next step is to make sure that you aren’t bringing in food that is already contaminated. When you purchase food, check for sign of pests. If the packaging is damaged or opened, choose a different product. Check for holes in the packaging and inspect the food for bugs or eggs. If food looks suspicious, don’t buy it. It’s better to be safe than sorry because weevils can easily spread to contaminate many foods in your pantry.
Rice Weevil Control
There’s always a chance that you will purchase contaminated food by accident. It can be difficult to identify weevil eggs until it’s too late. If you do find rice weevils in your pantry, here’s what you can do. First, dispose of all contaminated food. Toss the entire product and remove it from your home. Be sure to locate all food products that have been contaminated. If you miss a few weevil eggs, you’ll have a second infestation as soon as they hatch.
If rice weevils have made their way into your home, Quik-Kill Pest Eliminators can help. We can identify rice weevil eggs and adults, and we can verify the scope of the infestation. We also know the most effective ways to get rid of rice weevils. We can save you from headaches and frustration as you try to track down every rice weevil in your pantry. Reach out today and let us conduct a thorough search and give you long-lasting results so you can stop worrying about finding weird bugs in your cabinets.