Rice Weevils

Rice weevils or Sitophilus oryzae Linnaeus can destroy large amounts of food sources, you may find them in rice, grains, peas and wheat storage area and similar places, rice weevils live all over the world, rice weevils can destroy large amounts of preserved grains, especially when kept for a long period, Rice weevils live in tropical or semi-tropical environments, they also prefer warm locations with high humidity which contain a large amounts of food like grain storage areas, rice weevils usually invade fields before rice harvest seasons.

Rice weevils’ identification

Rice weevils size ranges from 2 to 4 mm, they have a dark brown color, their body has four orange spots that spread on wings that enable them to fly, some holes on their bodies may reach up to the bottom of the back or half of their body, rice weevils male’s mouth is shorter and wider than female’s mouth with distinctive holes on their bodies, larvae are white and have no legs, they have irregularities in the back, larvae grow inside the rice grains so homeowners do not discover infestations in the early stages of Development.

Insects that look like rice weevils

• Grain weevils or Sitophilus granarius, which have a light color of wings, a hole on the chest area.
• Corn weevils or S. zeamais, which is slightly smaller in size (2.3 to 2.9 mm), there are several holes on the middle area, this type prefers wheat.
• Whole grain weevils or Caulophilus oryzae, characterized by short and wide mouth parts.

Rice weevils feeding habits

from their name, you may guess rice weevils’ food, as they eat rice, they may be found in rice containers, especially in homes and food factories, also rice storage area when it stored in large amounts, some types of rice weevils feed on wheat, grains, and peas.

Rice weevils’ life cycle

Rice weevils’ females lay 300 to 400 eggs during life cycle, they live from 4-5 month, they pierce a grain of rice to lay eggs inside, after hatching, larvae feed on the core of the rice, before appearing as adult rice weevils, they repeat the life cycle, larva stage may take 6 days, adults stay inside grains about 3-4 days and rice weevils life cycle may last for 32 days in summer.

Rice weevils damage

Rice weevils can destroy large amounts of stored food sources, larvae live and develop inside rice or whole grains or seeds. adult rice weevils feed on them, so infestation may lead to great economic losses to food storage areas.

Signs of rice weevils

Direct vision of rice weevils is a clear sign of infestation, rice weevils also raise grains temperature, so the surface becomes hot, moisture levels increases and therefore it is possible feel affected rice moist and rotten.

How to prevent rice weevil?

• Store rice in well-closed containers from heavy metal or glass or plastic, to prevent rice weevils from entering them.
• Clean rice containers especially before placing new rice or cereal inside it.
• Keep rice or grain storage areas clean.
• monitor food storage area regularly, especially in high temperature or humidity or in presence of previous infestation in the same place.
•  When you detect rice weevils’ infestation inside your home, you have to dispose it immediately, use a vacuum cleaner to get rid of rice weevils on the floor, in case of severe infestation, contact our experts in Pest Control Company in Jeddah to help you to get rid of rice weevils.