Most weevils have long, distinctly elbowed antennae that may fold into special grooves on the snout. Many have no wings, whereas others are excellent fliers. Most are less than 6 mm (0.25 inch) in length, although the largest exceed 80 mm (3 inches).

What does a weevil do?

Weevils damage stored foods, by boring into them to lay eggs. This increases the heat and humidity inside the packages they infest, which facilitates the growth of mold and fungus. As weevil infestations take place almost entirely inside packages of stored foods, they can be hard to detect and even harder to eradicate.

What does a weevil look like?

They have white bodies and brown coloured legs and usually live in flours, grains and cereals. Weevils are larger than flour mites and so are easier to spot. They also have a darker body, being brown in colour. They are a form of beetle and so are slender and oval shaped, with scales or shiny hairs on their bodies.

How big is a grain weevil?

about 2.5 – 5 mm

The granary weevil (Sitophilus granarius) is dark brown-black in colour and is about 2.5 – 5 mm in length. In small grains, such as millet or milo maize, weevils are small in size, however in grains such as corn they are larger. They possess a long slender snout and cannot fly.

Do weevils spread around the house?

Weevils that come indoors for shelter can infest every room in the home. They often cluster in rooms that have windows. They gather at the windows trying to get outside. Homeowners find these weevils crawling on the walls, on windowsills and on ceilings.

Do weevils bite you?

Q: DO WEEVILS BITE HUMANS? A: No. Weevils feed exclusively on grains, seeds, nuts, roots and even some fruits. Unlike fleas or ticks, they do not have a parasitic relationship to either human beings or common household pets.

Can weevils hurt you?

The Good News. The truth is, weevils are NOT harmful to humans. Accidentally eating them along with your food does not cause any ill effects. What could happen is that they can simply add a different crunch to your food when eaten, something unpalatable even?

What kills weevils instantly?

Wipe the shelves with hot soapy water or a disinfecting spray then wipe again with white vinegar, which is known to kill weevils.

What do weevils turn into?

All three types of weevils lay eggs by boring a small hole in a grain seed and laying a single egg. The tiny larvae, legless, humpbacked worm white in color, develop entirely inside the shell of the seed, transforming into the pupa which then emerges and leaves the seeds as an adult insect.

How do I know if I have weevils?

Weevil Infestation Signs



Regular temperature checks of your grain are incredibly important, as heat at the grain surface is also a common indicator of a weevil problem. Because weevil larvae develop inside kernels, the presence of adult weevils in your grain is a sure-fire sign of infestation.

What are the benefits of weevils?

In furtherance, the Edible Palm Weevil Larvae (Akokono) is a significant source of fat and protein , valuable amino acids, B vitamins, and zinc. The above elaborates the nutritional value of Akokono in promoting good health.

What damage does weevils cause?

Have a Weevil Problem? Do Bean Weevils Bite? Bean weevils do not pose threats to human or animal health as they do not bite or sting, but do cause extensive damage to live bean plants and dry stored beans, resulting in expensive losses in crops and food supplies.

Why are weevils harmful?

The major damage caused by weevils is the death of sprouts.



The weevil chews the sprouts and damages the crops. Weevils are beetles belonging to the superfamily curculionidae. They are herbivorous in nature. Many weevils are considered pests because of their ability to damage and destroy the crops.