How to get rid of weevils on beans?

Have you ever found weevils on beans or in your pantry? This can be an unpleasant and shocking experience. However, it is common for them to come home. The good news is that they can be easily treated. Discover on this occasion how you can get rid of weevils effectively.

First of all, it should be remembered that weevils are small insects that can be found in grains such as wheat, corn, beans or rice. They belong to the order Coleoptera and there are several species. Also known as “flour bugs”, they have a dimension between 3 and 60 millimeters, and are reddish-brown or black in color.

They are considered one of the most common pests in crops and grains that are already stored, as indicated by the "manual of pests in stored grains" from the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center. Their presence causes damage to food, favors the presence of other insects and can cause infections. Still, they are not that dangerous for people. How to remove them?

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Weevil Treatment Recommendations

First, locate the source of weevils in the kitchen and remove food packages that contain them. Likewise, it should be verified if they have spread through the drawers. Later, in the removal process, you can follow a series of recommendations that will help you keep them away.

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Remove Them

Of course, the first thing you should do when finding weevils is to remove them. You can submerge the packets in boiling water so that the insects do not survive and continue to spread. You can also store contaminated food in a bag, seal it tightly, and quickly get it out of your home.

Some of the weevils, like rice weevils, are very agile and can easily scurry around your kitchen to find more food. In addition, he considers that the larvae are difficult to eliminate, since they are not usually detected with the naked eye. Therefore, the ideal is to vacuum the cupboard and give a pass with vinegar or insecticide to completely eliminate the pest.

Use natural repellents

There are several popular methods of repelling weevils with natural plants. Bay leaves, cloves, black pepper, rosemary leaves, and garlic cloves may help. Also, you can put match heads and clean with vinegar as these components scare them away.

Do a deep cleaning

As a final step, you need to do a deep cleaning to remove all stored bugs and eggs. As prevention with the grains, you can wash them and then put them in the oven to kill any insects. You can also put them in the freezer and then wash them.

In the case of the drawers, if the infestation was very large, it is convenient to change the paper to line them, and vacuum the shelves. You can also use vinegar to clean areas around and under appliances. If you have old cardboard or paper in the cupboard, it is best to throw them away.

Use traps

If you live in an area where the appearance of weevils is normal, there are some traps that are very useful to attract them. These are devices that release pheromones to attract weevils. Once they get there, they get stuck and can't escape. In fact, this will serve as an indicator of the number of insects that are in your kitchen.

Take care of other packages

You may fear that weevils are in other packages. To avoid unpleasant surprises later, you can put the grains and flours in the freezer. If you store them at a low temperature in airtight containers, you will avoid a new infestation.

How to prevent the appearance of weevils?

The best way to prevent the appearance of weevils in the pantry is to avoid buying food that is contaminated with them. Therefore, it is essential to know how to identify them. If you buy in bulk, you should closely check the beans. Remember that they are small insects in a range of colors from light to dark brown, depending on the type of weevil.

For packaged items, move the bag around and try to spot small specks through the clear plastic. This exercise is recommended for grains and flours that come from wheat, corn, quinoa, oats, cereals, pasta, and barley.

While weevils usually find their way into your home through already infected packages, it's also possible for them to find their way into your pantry, depending on the type of climate and the weevil species. To avoid this, it is convenient to close the drawers or the storage area well.