How to Get Rid of Weevils the Natural Way
The two weevil varieties most commonly found in North American homes are rice weevils and granary weevils. The former is found in more temperate southern regions and the latter prefers cooler northern areas. Both have long, thin bodies with a down-turned snout and feed on grains and beans.
For a long time, toxic pesticides were used to deal with these pests, but many people are now turning to natural methods to eliminate weevils. If you want a healthy and environmentally-friendly way of dealing with weevils in your home, there are several options available.
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Seal all grain containers such as flour bags and cereal boxes. Weevils will eat any grains in your house and even lay their eggs in any grain seeds they find. Consider putting grains in easy-to-seal plastic containers or airtight plastic bags. Never leave food lying around.
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Freeze your foods if you are uncertain about infestation. Weevils can't tolerate cold temperatures and will die if you freeze them. Leave foods such as rice and flour in the freezer for several days to kill any weevils.
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Throw out food that you are certain has been infested. The best way to get rid of weevils naturally is to eliminate their food supply.
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Keep your house clean. Sweep your floors, scrub your tables and clean out your cabinets. You may get rid of all your grains, but if crumbs remain, so will the weevils. Take care to deal with cracks and crevices where food often gets stuck.
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Hang small sacks filled with black pepper around grain containers. Weevils will stay away from black pepper.
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Kill any weevils you encounter or gather them in a tissue and deposit them far from your house.
Things You Will Need
- Plastic containers
- Airtight plastic bags
References
Writer Bio
James Stuart began his professional writing career in 2010. He traveled through Asia, Europe, and North America, and has recently returned from Japan, where he worked as a freelance editor for several English language publications. He looks forward to using his travel experience in his writing. Stuart holds a Bachelor of Arts in English and philosophy from the University of Toronto.
Photo Credits
- Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images
- Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images
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