Flour Weevil

Flour weevils and weevils are separate insects, they have some similarities in life styles and habits, flour weevils are very small insect, they live in the flour, so it is difficult to discover them, weevils are larger than the flour weevils, and therefore they are easier to detect, they have dark brown color, with an oval and slim body.

flour weevils live in flour places, they belong to Tenebrionidae family, they eat flour only and eat no grains, they may live inside cracks or pots and tanks, they may cause unpleasant smell, and may leave their feces or dead bodies, in this article we will learn more about flour weevils and how to get rid of them.

flour weevils’ identification

flour weevils are not considered a real weevil, they belong to beetles family, flour weevils have an oval body and metallic or reddish brown color, their size is about 3 to 4 mm, some homeowners mistaken between flour weevils and the red flour beetle because they are similar in appearance and behavior, you can differentiate between them through their antennae, flour weevils have flat and proportional antennae, while red flour beetles have a large strange antennae.

flour weevil’s life cycle

Females lay eggs in flour and cracks, when larvae hatch inside flour, they can be easy detected, so we called them flour weevils,they have a light brown color and six legs, in this stage they look like worms, they turn into adult flour weevils within one month, and can live up to one or three years in hot and humid weather.

flour weevils Signs of infestation

Seeing flour weevils inside flour is a clear sign of infestation, some types of flour weevils fly and attracted to light, therefore you may observe them easily, seeing dead flour weevils or unpleasant smell or taste inside the flour may be another sign of infestation.

Where flour weevils live?

flour weevils live inside food such as flour, pasta, cake flour, powdered milk, starch and corn flour, flour weevils cannot eat whole grains products, they leave feces or skin and unpleasant odors in the food they feed on.

Can I eat flour infected with flour weevils?

  flour weevils are not considered a dangerous insect, they don’t bite or poison house owners, when flour becomes contaminated with flour weevils, oven may help eliminate them, it is not recommended to eat infected flour, you have to eliminate this flour weevil may be a cause of fungal spores or mold, some people may suffer from allergies of flour weevils and itchy skin, and they may need a medical help as soon as possible.

How flour weevils enter homes?

flour weevils enter your kitchen through flour or wheat products, when female lays eggs inside stored flour for a long time, they hatch and increase the infestation.

How to get rid of flour weevils?

• Freeze flour Freezing flour may be an effective solution to eliminate flour weevils, flour can be put in bags and closed tightly, and kept in the freezer for four days to kill eggs and flour weevils.
• Bay leaves to get rid of flour mites Bay leaves are an excellent treatment for flour weevils, put dried leaves in the kitchen or inside flour bags to prevent flour weevils.
• Keep the flour in a sealed container Don’t   leave flour containers open in a warm or humid environment, close containers with tight lids to prevent flour weevils.
• Use the flour you buy quickly Use flour once you buy it and do not keep it for a long time or store the flour for a long time, buy adequate amount of flour to your home.
• Do not keep unnecessarily food in your kitchen leave food in the closet and cover it in a correct way, get rid of remaining foods.
• Use Eucalyptus oil Use Eucalyptus oil inside the shelves of your kitchen, oil can control flour weevils, also it saves rice and beans.
• clean kitchen shelves and food containers continuously clean your kitchen weekly or at least every two weeks, clean shelves regularly, use insecticides, use new sheets for your kitchen.
• Store food residues in secure places store food residues carefully or dispose it immediately, as this may increase the chance of flour weevils.
• Contact the pest control company in Jeddah If you cannot get rid of flour weevils, call our company to help you eliminate the problem of flour weevils in your home immediately.