How to Get Rid of Weevils (Flour Bugs)

 Cleaning and Improving Your Pantry

 

Find the source of the weevils. Although pantry pests can fly, they usually like to stay near their food source. If you've noticed small reddish brown beetles, weevils, in your flour, they may also be in other foods in your pantry. You should also check for weevils near your pet's food dishes since this may be their source of food. Check for weevils in:

Cereals and grains (oats, rice, quinoa, bran).

Crackers.

Spices and herbs .

Dried pasta.

Dried fruit.

Chocolate, candy, and nuts.

Dried peas or beans.

Vacuum and wash your pantry. Remove the food from your pantry shelves and use a vacuum attachment to suck up any loose bits of food or flour. Take a wash cloth dipped in soapy water and wash all of the shelves and anywhere that there may be spilled food. If you've found weevils in other rooms of your house, vacuum them up

Immediately empty the vacuum canister in your dumpster outside so the weevils don't stay in your kitchen trashcan.

You won't need to use commercial insecticides for weevils or pantry moths if you clean your pantry and remove their food source.

Wipe your pantry shelves with white vinegar or eucalyptus oil. Once you've thoroughly cleaned your pantry shelves, wipe them with a liquid that weevils dislike. You can wipe a mixture of half water and half white vinegar or use eucalyptus oil. Just dilute the eucalyptus oil with a little water and spray it onto the shelves.

You can also try neem, tee tree, or pine needle oils to prevent the weevils from getting into your pantry.

Place all of your foods in airtight, hard containers. Since weevils can eat through cardboard boxes or bags, you'll need to store your pantry foods in hard plastic containers or jars that are air-tight. If you've bought bakery mixes (like cake or muffin mixes), check these for weevils and transfer them to containers. You can color code or label your containers to make them easy to use

You may want to cut out any cooking instructions from cardboard packages for foods and store them in an organizer in your kitchen.