Rice Weevils

Rice weevils are small stored product pests that attack a wide variety of grains including:

• Barley

• Corn

• Rice

• Wheat

• Oats

• Rye

• Dry Cereals

• Pasta

These winged insects are reddish-brown to black and have four yellow or reddish spots on the corners of their forewings. Although they’re quite small, growing to about ⅛” in length, their “nose” is very distinctive as it is about a third of their total body length.

Adult female rice weevils lay their eggs inside of grains. Once they hatch, the rice weevil larvae begin to eat the grain from the inside out, which can make it difficult to identify them by simply glancing inside a bag of food. The larvae are legless with plump, cream-colored bodies and dark head capsules. 

Are Rice Weevils Harmful?

Rice weevils are not directly dangerous to people because they are not known to transmit any diseases to humans. They are, however, dangerous to the grain industry and can cause a lot of problems for homeowners by contaminating food sources.

If you find rice weevils in your food, you don’t have to worry about getting sick because of them. However, it’s extremely unappealing to eat food with pests in it, and a rice weevil infestation can cost you a lot of money in wasted food that has to be thrown away.

Why Do I Have A Rice Weevil Problem?

A rice weevil problem generally begins when adults infest crops. When the crops are harvested and brought to a food processing facility, rice weevils can end up contaminating the entire facility, not only remaining in that one particular crop, but spreading to other previously uncontaminated items.

Rice weevils generally enter homes through products purchased at the store that are already infested with adult rice weevils or their larvae. It is also possible for adults to fly into your home through open windows or doors, which usually happens when conditions outdoors are unfavorable to them.

Signs of a rice weevil infestation in your home include finding adult weevils or their casings in packages of grains or exit holes in grain packaging that are left behind after the adults emerge from them. You may also see rice weevil larvae in your food items.

How To Get Rid of Rice Weevils

The fastest, safest, and most effective way to eliminate rice weevils or any other stored product pest from your home is to get help as quickly as possible from a professional. At All-American Pest Control, we can help eliminate rice weevils and other common household pests from your home through our year-round Perimeter Plus Pest Control Program. 

It’s important to throw away any contaminated food items that you find and thoroughly wash any reusable containers that rice weevils were found in. You should also inspect the rest of your stored pantry products for signs of rice weevils since they can easily spread.