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Weevils: How to Spot Them and Keep Them Out of Your Pantry

  • Writer: Eco Pest Bermuda
    Eco Pest Bermuda
  • Aug 26, 2025
  • 2 min read
Weevils in a package of rice

If you’ve ever opened a bag of rice, pasta, or flour only to find tiny bugs crawling inside, you’ve likely met weevils. These pests are common in Bermuda and can be one of the most frustrating pantry problems, especially with our high grocery prices—no one wants to throw away food they just bought.


While Eco Pest offers treatments for many household pests, there isn’t a practical pest control solution for weevils once they’re in your house. The good news? With a few preventative steps, you can keep these unwelcome visitors out of your kitchen.


What Are Weevils?


Weevils are a type of beetle that infest stored grains and dry foods such as rice, flour, pasta, cornmeal, and cereals. They are very small (often less than 4 mm long) and can appear reddish-brown or black.


What makes them especially tricky is that weevils don’t just crawl into packaging—they often hatch inside sealed products because their eggs are laid in the grain kernels themselves. By the time you notice them, they’ve usually been there for a while.


Why Are Weevils a Problem?


  • Food Waste – Infested products often have to be thrown away, which is costly with Bermuda’s grocery prices.

  • Rapid Spread – If not caught quickly, weevils can spread from one package to another, infesting an entire pantry.

  • Frustration Factor – Few things are more irritating than finding bugs in food you just bought.


How to Spot a Weevil Infestation


  • Small beetle-like insects in or around opened food packages.

  • Fine powder at the bottom of bags (a sign that grains have been eaten).

  • Tiny holes in pasta, rice, or beans.

  • In severe cases, you may even see them crawling in cupboards or on shelves.


Tips to Prevent and Control Weevils

Since there’s no chemical pest control treatment for weevils in homes, prevention and good pantry practices are your best defense.


  1. Inspect Before You Buy

    • Check packaging for holes or signs of damage.

    • Choose products with recent packaging dates when possible.


  2. Store in Airtight Containers

    • Transfer grains, rice, pasta, and flour into sealed glass, plastic, or metal containers as soon as you bring them home. This keeps weevils from spreading if one product is infested.


  3. Freeze Dry Goods Before Storing

    • Place new grain-based products in the freezer for 72 hours. This kills any eggs or larvae that may already be inside.


  4. Keep Your Pantry Clean

    • Regularly wipe down shelves to remove spills, crumbs, or food dust that attract pests.


  5. Use Smaller Quantities

    • Buy only what you can use within a reasonable time frame to reduce the chance of long-term storage infestations.


  6. Dispose Quickly if Infested

    • If you find weevils, throw the product away immediately in a sealed bag outside of your home to prevent spreading.


Final Word

Weevils are an unfortunate part of life in Bermuda, but with the right prevention strategies, you can reduce the frustration (and food waste) they cause. While Eco Pest can’t treat weevils with traditional pest control, we’re always here to provide guidance and tips to help you protect your home and pantry.


📞 Contact us at 296-7378 (PEST) or email info@ecopestbermuda.com.







 
 
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