Last Updated on August 11, 2021 by
The battle between man and the insect world is constantly going on all about us. Some insects are merely pests. Some spread disease. And some spend a lifetime destroying the things man tries to grow or create.
If there is any family of insects that man could certainly do without, it is the weevil. While the weevils are only a sub-division of the beetle group of insects, the weevils are themselves the largest natural family in the entire animal kingdom! They include over 35,000 known species, and there are probably several times that number that man has yet to discover and classify! Weevils vary greatly in size, shape, and color.
They are usually small and are recognized by the trunk-like or knife-like projections on their heads. At the end of these projections, there is a mouth. These snouts are used by the females for drilling holes for their eggs. Weevil larvae are usually fat, white grubs, and both the larvae and the adults have good appetites and are vegetable eaters.
But the reason why they are so destructive is not because of their large numbers or enormous appetites. It is because they attack the most vital and delicate parts of the plant—the buds, fruits, seeds, growing tips, and living tissues under the bark. When they get finished, the plant is apt to be dead.
The granary weevil destroys the grains of corn, wheat, and barley. This is one of the most destructive weevils of all. The rice weevil destroys not only rice but a great many other dry food products. The cotton boll weevil is the most serious enemy of the cotton crops of the world. It can ruin entire cotton crops. With more than 2,500 different weevils to be found in North America alone, you can see what an enemy of man this insect is.
Do Weevils Bite Humans?
They cannot bite or sting and they do not carry diseases.
What do weevils do?
Answer – A weevil is a small beetle that feeds on foods like flour, grain, rice, cereal, nuts, and beans. Unlike other pantry pests that strictly eat food, weevils lay eggs inside the food.
How long do weevils live for?
Answer – On average, adult weevils have a lifespan of two to three months
Can weevils infest your house?
Yes, there are some types of house-infesting insects that you might want to watch out for, and one of them is the Weevil. This little critter can be found in a variety of places, and though it doesn’t consume any materials themselves, it can cause problems if they’re not taken care of properly.
Will freezing rice kill weevil eggs?
Answer- Freezing is the easiest and effective way to kill a weevil. When flour, rice, beans, and pasta are left in the freezer for 3-7 days, it will kill both the adult weevil and its eggs.
