© 2024 Rentokil Initial plc and subject to the conditions in the legal statement.
Appearance
Actual Size: ⅛”
Characteristics: Long snout; reddish-brown to black, four light spots on wings.
Legs: 6
Antennae: Yes
Wings: Yes
Habitat
Found in rice, pasta, seeds, beans, and other dried grains.
Habits
The rice weevil is distributed worldwide and is a serious stored-grain pest, living, feeding and breeding inside food. More prominent in southern regions, rice weevil adults and larvae feed on whole grains. Often called flour bugs, these snout-nosed beetles infest and feed on rice, flour, nuts, beans, seeds, cereals and especially macaroni. Adults can fly and are attracted to light. The larval rice weevil must complete its development inside a seed kernel or a man-made equivalent, like macaroni products.
Rice weevils are sometimes found in homes infesting rice, beans, birdseed, sunflower seeds, dried corn, macaroni and spaghetti. Weevils are internal feeders, and are also found in grain storage facilities, food processing plants, and whole food markets. Adults can live for 7 to 8 months and the egg, larva, and pupa stages occur in the grain kernels and are rarely seen. Females deposit 300-400 eggs inside a seed or grain kernel. Larvae hollow out kernels of grain and usually attack whole kernels. Holes in the side of the grain are made by adults and by the emerging adults.
Rice weevils do not harm people, pets, or home furnishings, but they do damage grains and seeds, and large populations can destroy food. Weevils feed on almost every processed, grain-based food consumed by people and their small size makes it possible for them to hide in tiny cracks. They can also enter even the smallest opening in a package, making them a relatively common household pest. Since rice weevils feed inside food packaging, they can remain hidden in the pantry for a long time. Homeowners will often spot adult weevils crawling on pantry shelves and floors.
If an infestation is present in your San Juan home, locate and discard all infested material. Contact your local exterminators for help with rice weevils!