There are thousands of different species of weevils that exist in North America alone. Among the most aggressive is the granary weevil. These pests are known for laying their eggs in grain kernels and can cause food items to become non-consumable for humans. Because both larvae and adult granary weevils feed on grain in order to live and grow, infestations of these weevils are capable of causing lots of damage.

Granary weevils can be identified by their reddish-brown bodies. They look like long, cylindrical versions of an ant, and can grow to be between 3 to 5 millimeters in length. Interestingly enough, while they do have wings, they can’t fly! The larvae weevils are white in appearance and do not have any legs.

An adult female granary weevil lays approximately 150 eggs throughout her life span. They are capable of drilling holes through grain kernels, laying their eggs inside, and then filling the holes back up with a gel-like material. The female weevils tend to lay eggs one after another in different kernels. The eggs will hatch about 3 days later, and depending on the room’s temperature, the larvae can take around 30 to 40 days to become a full adult. The average life span of a granary weevil is around 7 to 8 months.

Granary weevils live in areas that are cool and temperate, making Canada and upper United States their main habitat. These weevils are commonly found in Ontario, Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan respectively.

Among the food items they eat, they love eating grains and seeds such as rice, rye, corn, oats, sunflower seeds, bird seeds, popcorn and barley. Adults can also eat pastas and cereal. Granary weevils consume the same food items in which they grow and breed.

Granary weevils do not bite humans, spread disease, or cause damage to structures or furniture. They mainly only cause damage to pantries in the home and food stores. The growth and life cycle of the larvae can cause infected grains to heat up. As a result, this will cause the grain to grow fungi and sprouts, damaging valuable crop. Since infestations cause these food items to go bad, these weevils can take a toll on your finances, whether you buy or sell grained foods. Contact pest control in Newmarket for the best solution to your granary weevil problem.

Arguably the worst part of a granary weevil infestation is their ability to conceal themselves in grain. By the time you determine an infestation has begun, damage to crops have already begun and action must be taken. Because larvae mature and adults practically live inside kernels of grains, they can be very hard to find inside food items. For the best way to detect a granary weevil infestation, you should look at grained product packaging. Affected grains will end up being moist, and individual kernels will have holes in them.

The best way to get rid of granary weevils is to throw out the product that they have infected. Since they have ended up living in those food items, they are of no longer safe to consume. If you are experiencing large quantities of granary weevils, you should enlist the help of professional pest control services in Toronto as soon as possible, in order to secure the best possible eradication methods.

To prevent granary weevil infestations, it is recommended to properly store grained foods inside sanitary storage bins. Lock-tight containers will prevent pests from getting to your food. Homeowners can also take the temperature in which food is stored at into consideration. Putting grains in the freezer can kill infestations and prevent the spreading of granary weevils. After consumption, these storage bins should be thoroughly washed before storage of other food products.