The rice weevil is a serious pest of grain crops.

Those wishing to feast on the fruits of man's labor appeared on the same day when man first stocked up on food. It is known that Ancient Rome and Egypt suffered from an invasion of granary beetles that spoiled grain reserves. Centuries have passed, but humanity still cannot get rid of such a parasite as the common barn weevil. To immediately recognize the parasite in a product, you should study its description and characteristics. And in order to understand how to combat it more effectively, it is necessary to find out methods of reproduction, preferred conditions and other information.

Granary weevil: description

Characterized by its small size (about 4 mm), the pest bug is distinguished by its dark brown, almost black color, narrow long body and the presence of wings. Such an insect is not adapted to flight, which does not prevent it from successfully moving over considerable distances with the help of humans. The granary weevil travels from continent to continent on ships carrying industrial grain shipments, and by land on trains and automobiles. How to get rid of such a dangerous insect?

The process of reproduction of such insects occurs during the warm period: the female, using a thin proboscis, gnaws a small hole in each grain (there are two in a corn grain), lays an egg in it, and then seals the crack with a stopper made of flour. This trick makes damaged grains practically indistinguishable from whole grains. You can spot the “trick” if you throw a handful of grains into the water: damaged (infested) specimens will float to the surface, while intact ones will sink to the bottom. Upon visual inspection, you can see that grains with larvae are an order of magnitude duller in color than undamaged ones.

Characteristic

The granary weevil is also called the grain weevil. This is an insect whose body does not exceed 5 mm. The size of the bug depends on the food it consumed during its development. The body shape resembles a slightly narrowed cylinder, the surface is shiny. The color of a broadmouth depends on its age. Thus, young individuals are colored light brown, while adults are almost black in color.

Barn weevil

The head of the weevil is very small, extended forward into a rostrum, at the end of which there is a mouthparts with which the grain weevil gnaws its food. The antennae located on the head are curved. The insect has wings: elytra with deep longitudinal grooves, membranous wings.

Interesting!

Despite the fact that the granary weevil is “equipped” with wings, it moves only with the help of its legs, since the development of the wings does not allow them to be used for these purposes.

Morphology

Imago.
The body length of the beetle is from 3.5 to 4.5 mm. Body size varies significantly (depending on the food on which it evolved). The body is narrow, cylindrical, shiny. Young beetles are light brown, old ones are almost black. The small head is elongated into a long thin rostrum, at the end of which gnawing-type mouthparts are placed. The antennae are curved at an angle.

Pronotum in rough oblong pits, upper wings with deep longitudinal grooves, fused. Lower membranous wings are not developed - the beetle cannot fly.[6]

The female's abdomen is straight in profile; the anus is in the form of a straight transverse slit. In the male, the last segments of the abdomen are curved downwards and the anus is in the form of a curved slit.[8]

Egg. A newly laid egg is transparent, dirty white, and has a regular ellipsoidal shape; Over time, this correctness disappears. Its length is 0.6-0.75 mm. Width – 0.3-0.4 mm.

The larva is legless, fleshy, worm-shaped, about 3-4 mm long, white, with a brown head.

Doll. The shape resembles an adult beetle, white transparent, 3-5 mm long.[8]

Life cycle of the granary weevil

The fertility of one individual is 150-300 eggs with a life cycle of 3-4 months; males live a little longer, about 5 months. The duration of development of the larva (about 3 mm long, white, with a brown head) depends on temperature and humidity and is 3-6 weeks. One can only imagine how many thousands of pests just one pair of beetles can produce over the course of a year. At a temperature of +4°C, the larvae stop developing; at –5°C, they die. Upon completion of development, they turn into almost transparent, 3-5 mm long pupae. After 7 - 22 days, the formed beetles of the new generation gnaw a passage in the shell and leave the shelter outside. The average lifespan of an adult specimen is about 2 years. During the day, one larva destroys 0.08-0.67 mg of grain, gnawing out its internal contents; Accordingly, a massive number of these insects can destroy a significant amount of stocks.

Development

Imago. The female usually gnaws a shallow hole in the grain near the embryo, at the bottom of which one egg is placed. The fertility of a female weevil is about 200-250 testicles.

Egg. To protect it from drying out and predators, the laid egg is covered with mucus, which quickly hardens in air.

Larva. A few days later, a legless white larva emerges from the egg, shortened, with a strongly convex back and a brown head. Immediately after hatching from the egg, the larva bites into the grain, where it spends its entire life, eating away almost all of its contents. In feeding areas, larvae that have completed development form a cradle, in which they transform into a pupa, shaped like an adult beetle.

Doll. The development of the pupa lasts 7-22 days (depending on air temperature).

Imago. The beetles of the new generation, after the outer cover has hardened, after 2-6 days, gnaw a round hole in the grain shell and go outside. They feed by gnawing out the softest parts of the grain, thereby spoiling a significant amount of grain during the entire period of their life. The beetle avoids illuminated places. At the slightest shock, it falls into a stupor, pressing its antennae and legs tightly to its body. [6]

Abiotic factors. Optimal conditions for the development of weevils in grain are grain moisture of 14 -16%, air humidity of 75 - 95% and a temperature of about 25 °C. The duration of pest development from egg laying to adulthood depends on temperature and humidity. Thus, at 17 °C development lasts about 80 days, at 20 °C - 70 days, at 25 °C - 34 days and at 28 °C - 1 month.

The lifespan of a beetle is very significant. At room temperature and the presence of food, a beetle can live for more than a year (at a temperature of 10-12 ° C - 28 months).[1] At a temperature of (5-10)°C, beetles stop feeding, and at 3°C ​​they fall into cold torpor; at temperatures below 0 °C, weevils gradually die.[6]

Lack of moisture inhibits the development of the weevil, and a humidity of 11% is detrimental to it.

In the southern regions, in the conditions of granaries, the granary weevil can produce 2-3 generations during the year, and in the central regions - 1-2. Beetles, larvae and pupae overwinter inside grains. Beetles can also overwinter in crevices and cracks in floors, walls, crawl spaces and other similar places. [5]

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Distributed with all types of damaged products. Especially often with warehouse equipment, grain cleaning machines that have not been cleared of old grain residues, and have not been destroyed with sweeps and unusable grain waste.[6]

A small and distant bug

The insect got its name due to the unusual shape of its head. Its front part resembles an elongated proboscis. With its help, the bug destroys the dense skin of grain or cereal.

In the natural environment, there are many species of weevils that destroy:

• grain crops;
• peas;
• buckwheat;
• rice;
• corn.

Therefore, the question of how to combat the grain weevil is being decided at the state level. Otherwise, the country may lose the harvest and famine will occur.

The beetle belongs to the Coleoptera family. Its maximum size is approximately 4 mm. The weevil is dark brown in color. Doesn't fly. The active life cycle of an adult lasts approximately 2 years. The female produces 3 or 4 generations per year. She lays eggs inside the grain, where they go through all stages of development.

In order for the individuals to come out, the adult beetles gnaw a hole in the grain.

She can lay approximately 300 eggs per season, which can damage a large amount of grain. Mass reproduction of pests leads to an increase in the temperature of the stored crop. The pest overwinters inside the grain or in various crevices of the room.

Eating methods

Rice weevils feed on grain crops:

• buckwheat;
• beans;
• rice;
• barley;
• rye;
• wheat and others.

Insects also develop in bakery and pasta products. According to studies, adult individuals are capable of destroying up to 30% of the crop. Weevils damage grains at all stages of development. Moreover, these insects are dangerous not only because they eat crops.

During their life, weevils leave substances in the grains that cause allergic reactions in a susceptible person. Beetles are also considered carriers of fungal infections. And the larvae contain substances that provoke the development of tumor processes and stop tissue regeneration.

Destruction of beetles in kitchen supplies

How to deal with such a dangerous pest as the barn weevil? How to get rid of such a small but harmful insect in the barn and kitchen? In terms of household supplies, if a weevil is found in cereals, you should not eat the latter, because the secretions of insects and larvae contain carcinogens. Infected products must be thrown away, and a tough and possibly lengthy fight must be waged against the weevil.

It is recommended to store cereals in jars or hermetically sealed containers - not in bags, which the granary weevil (photo above) can easily gnaw through with its sharp teeth. Barn weevils are heat-loving creatures and die at low temperatures. Therefore, as one of the ways to get rid of bugs, you can use cold: place products that serve as potential food for weevils in the freezer. High temperatures also have a devastating effect on the tiny resident. Thus, at +40°C the granary weevil dies within 2 days, at +50°C – after 6 hours. After processing, food supplies should be placed in sealed containers with tight lids that are impenetrable to insects.

Prevention of occurrence

The basis of prevention is the inspection of purchased cereals to identify adult beetles, larvae or eggs. To avoid insects, it is recommended:

• clean containers from remnants of past cereals;
• keep storage boxes clean;
• grain collected at different periods should be stored separately;
• maintain humidity at 2-4%;
• refuse to store cereals in plastic bags;
• store cereals and pasta in hermetically sealed containers;
• regularly inspect inventory;
• Disinfect kitchen utensils in a timely manner.

To reduce the risk of weevils appearing in an apartment, it is recommended not to store cereals for longer than four months in a row. During the warmer months, supplies should be inspected every two weeks. In winter, the frequency of checking can be reduced.

When storing grains or pasta for a long time, containers with reserves should be placed in cool rooms where direct sunlight does not penetrate.

Advantages and disadvantages

The weevil is a creature extremely adapted to changing environmental conditions.

It feels comfortable in a temperature range of 16 to 28 degrees, but can tolerate more extreme temperatures. It is also not demanding of environmental humidity, since it spends most of its life inside the grain under the protection of its dense shell - exine. However, too dry air is destructive for most insects, including the weevil.

The duration of the beetle's life cycle depends on external conditions: the milder they are, the faster the insect reaches sexual maturity. If the temperature regime does not suit it, then the pest is able to fall into suspended animation and then return to a full life. Thus, the pest is capable of producing 2–3 generations during the year. Both beetles and larvae overwinter inside the grains. Also, adult insects feel good in crevices, cracks and other secluded places.

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Together with damaged grain, as well as equipment, weevils migrate from one storage facility to another, damaging agricultural products.

Since man is forced to tolerate the presence of the weevil in his barns, he has developed a strategy to combat this pest. For prevention, the following means of control are used:

• cooling or, conversely, warming up grain and its processed products before storage;
• drying it out, because insects are critical to environmental humidity;
• cleaning grain from debris and impurities;
• cleaning of storage facilities and treatment by disinfestation. For this purpose, preparations based on hydrogen phosphorous (phosphine) are used, which are sprayed or used in the form of an aqueous solution;
• the use of ionizing radiation is at the development stage and may be used in the future.

The weevil grows not only in barns, but also in our homes. To prevent the beetle from spoiling our supplies, there are proven and harmless methods:

• place the cereal in the freezer for a while, and then pour it into sealed containers;
• since the insect does not tolerate strong odors, you can add peeled garlic cloves, bay leaves or lavender sprigs to the cereal;
• The cabinets where you store supplies must be washed with soap, soda or vinegar solution and ventilated well.

And finally, you shouldn’t stock up on cereals and pasta for half your life: fighting the harmful bug can become too long and exhausting at home.

Folk remedies

If for some reason you don’t want to use chemicals to combat weevils, then here’s what we have - proven folk methods with a high level of environmental friendliness.

Iodine

It is best to use it in early March, when the snow is just starting to melt. At this time, weevils are in diapause due to low temperatures and it is necessary to take advantage of their weakness. Use as a solution: 5 liter bucket of water + half a teaspoon.

Advice! Spraying should be done either early in the morning or late in the evening. Exposure to bright rays is highly undesirable.

Mustard

It can be used together with potassium permanganate, but in general, mustard itself will most likely help rid the area of ​​weevils. Use as a solution: dry mustard (200 g) mixed with 10 l. water and is used during the budding period. Apply the mustard solution again after 12 days.

Onion peel

Onion peels are most often used in conjunction with celandine, but can also be used separately. It is necessary to prepare a solution from it. Take a bucket and fill it halfway with husks, then fill it with water and let it sit for 24 hours. When time has passed, you should strain it and dilute it with water again. Use this solution once every 5 days.

Celandine

Celandine is extremely toxic and helps get rid of weevils, so it is widely used by gardeners to combat this type of pest. Fill one third of a 3-liter jar with onion peels and celandine (3 times less than peels). Pour boiling water, wait until it cools, and then filter. Repeat again.

Karbofos

This drug is a real blast from the past. It was created back in 1952, but it is still in great demand among gardeners, which is why it has become a truly folk remedy. Used as a solution in calm and sunny weather. It is important to monitor the air temperature, as it should not be lower than 15ºC. Plants should be sprayed completely - both stems and leaves. Despite popular love, this drug is a short-term measure to combat weevils.

Ash

Wood ash has repellent properties and serves as an excellent fertilizer, and weevils cannot be near it. You should sprinkle it around the plants.

Baking soda

A baking soda solution works well and can be used, for example, during strawberry blossoms. The solution is made at the rate of 2 tbsp. l. for 1 bucket of water and spray the necessary plants.

Fir oil

Fir oil should be used only when the buds have not yet set. It is used, as you would expect, in solution:

1. Take a 10 liter bucket and pour warm water into it.
2. Two tablespoons of fir oil should be mixed with green soap (you can use any other product with an adhesive effect).
3. The solution is ready; spray only in calm weather.

Corvalol

You can add 10-15 drops of Corvalol to the water for irrigation. The product is not the most effective of those described here, but it will definitely cause harm to insects.

Potassium permangantsovka

An amazing remedy can help not only against streptoderma, but also protect gardeners from weevils. Dilute manganese (5 g) in a bucket of water and leave for two days. This solution does not kill pests, but it repels pests well.

Red pepper

1 kg of fresh red pepper pods can help you forget about these bugs.

1. Pour water (10 l) into fresh red pepper pods.
2. Let it brew in an enamel bucket for about 48 hours. The container should be tightly closed.
3. After 48 hours, boil the solution and leave again for 48 hours.

Then pour it into bottles and use it for its intended purpose - watering the plants. The solution must be stored in a dark and cool place.

Needles

Perhaps the oldest protection against weevils. It shows itself best on fruit and berry crops. It can repel not only weevils, but also other dangerous insects. Used as a solution. Infuse 1.5 kg of green needles in 10 liters of hot water. We wait until it cools down, and then we filter this solution.

This product should be used in a strictly defined order: plant trunks, then branches and finally leaves. For maximum effect, do this procedure 3 times in a row.

A good option is to make a concentrated infusion from pine needles.

1. Pour 2 kg of pine needles into 10 liters. water and let it brew for a week in a dark room.
2. Stir at least once a day.
3. After a week, dilute this concentrate with water in the following proportions - 1:3 and 1:5. This is the minimum and maximum range of proportions. If you use another one, then there is a risk of simply burning the plants.

Hydrogen peroxide

If you need to save strawberries, then be sure to try this remedy, since this field is a real hell for weevils. And all thanks to its oxidation.

Hydrogen is used in strawberries in different ways: as a disinfectant and as an aerator. Thanks to its structure, it destroys bacteria, microbes and viruses, leaving behind only oxygen and water. And thanks to this, it also saves the berries from rotting.

Used as a solution:

1. 2 tbsp. l. peroxides are mixed with 1 liter of water (it is permissible to add 3 tablespoons, but only if the plant’s situation is as dire as possible).
2. Treat plants with the solution in the morning or evening.
3. Repeat a week later, and so on throughout the season.

It is also used for soil - to prevent fungal infections: 1 liter. water and 5 tbsp. l. Mix 3% peroxide in a bucket. Use the resulting mixture directly on the soil.

Boric acid

Being an antiseptic, boric acid is also used as a fertilizer. After it, the fruits will be noticeably tastier due to the fact that they will be supplied with additional oxygen.

To prepare it, you need to dilute 1 package of boric acid (10 g) in 25-30 liters. water. Use the resulting solution on the lower leaves.

Garlic

Weevils cannot stand the smell of garlic, and it must be used in solution. Cut 100 g of garlic into small pieces and throw into a bucket of water. Let it brew for a week, and then pour it into containers convenient for watering.

As you can see, the devil is not as scary as he is portrayed. To prevent these pests from appearing in you, repeat preventive measures throughout the entire area. In essence, all the remedies described help not only against weevils, but also against other pests.

The most effective drugs to get rid of weevils once and for all

Barn weevil: control measures

In warehouses, it is very difficult to get rid of the barn weevil, because the insect hides in hard-to-reach places, and being inside the grains, it is practically invulnerable and can destroy from 10 to 30% of the harvested grain.

The fight against granary weevil consists of the following measures:

• Strong cooling of grain (down to -10°C), which can be used both for preventive purposes and in the process of destroying existing pests. Cooling is carried out in dry weather using ventilation and ventilation. This requires mandatory humidity control.
• You can partially get rid of the barn weevil by removing it on sieves with holes or using aspiration preparations. Any movement of the grain mass has a negative impact on the condition of harmful insects, reducing their numbers and development.

Fighting methods

In our country, methods to combat this pest are developed depending on climatic conditions. Therefore, in all regions, various methods of prevention and destruction of the rice weevil are used. In this case, the main criterion is the average daily temperature during grain harvesting. Thus, three climatic zones are distinguished:

• The air temperature does not exceed 16 degrees. This zone includes the following regions: Northern, Central, Northwestern, West Siberian, Ural, Volga-Vyatka, East Siberian, Central Black Earth (Tambov region), Volga region (Republic of Tatarstan, Penza region, Samara and Ulyanovsk regions) and Far Eastern. The average air temperature during the harvesting period is 16–20 degrees. This category includes the Kurgan and Orenburg regions, which are part of the Ural region and all regions of the Central Black Earth region, except Tambov.
• The air temperature rises to 23 degrees. This group includes the Republic of Kalmykia, Astrakhan and Volgograd regions.
• The principles of combating rice weevil are the same in all regions. They are divided into measures of a preventive nature and a destructive nature.

How to deal with grain weevil: wise advice from experts

Due to the fact that people have to endure the annoying bug in their storage units, they have come up with various options to combat it.

Preventive measures have a special effect:

• cleaning the crop from all kinds of impurities and debris;
• warming up;
• cooling the grain before sending it to storage at a temperature;
• maximum drying of the product;
• thorough cleaning of the premises;
• disinfection of storage with special preparations.

If the barn is small, beetles are driven away with the help of fragrant plants. It could be lavender, garlic or regular bay leaf. Let's take a closer look at how to deal with grain weevils in order to preserve the crop until the next season.

Periodic movement of grain into storage has a detrimental effect on the development of pest larvae.

Cleanliness is a reliable protector against pests

Before putting grain into storage, it must be thoroughly cleaned of debris. A small amount of the crop is carefully inspected, removing weeds and large husks. A large volume of grain is cleaned mechanically. Thanks to this treatment, the chance to protect the product from beetle invasion increases.

An important control measure for granary weevil is humidity control and ventilation of the granary. It should always be dry and have enough fresh air. If necessary, the room is treated with chemicals.

The following options are available for sale:

Most often, hydrogen phosphide is used, which is sprayed throughout the storage area. For small spaces, the drug is used in liquid form.

If grain is stored in containers, they also need to be disinfected and cleared of debris.

"Ambulance" tablets

To protect the crop from annoying pests, scientists have created a special drug. Practice has shown that tablets against weevils in grain are an effective means of combating the pest. However, before using them, you must carefully read the instructions for use.

If grain is poured into a hopper, tablets are added as it moves quickly and quite sharply. To ensure protection of the product stored in bags, the drug is placed around them in small portions.

Chemical methods of controlling weevils

One of the effective methods of getting rid of barn weevil is chemical disinfection of grain - a radical measure consisting of aerosol or gas treatment. Aerosol disinfection is carried out using the drugs “Aktellik”, “Karate”, “Fufanon”, “Arrivo”. This treatment, the advantage of which is the high effectiveness of the drug, is carried out by special organizations. The disadvantages of this method include the long period of time before permission to sell grain.

Gas disinfection is carried out with such drugs as Foskom, Alfos, Phostoxin, Magtoxin. The room must first be carefully sealed, and fumigation must be carried out with the involvement of specialized organizations.

Ways to get rid of weevils

The weevil can enter an apartment along with a package of flour or grain, which was stored in warehouses for a long time and then went on sale. If at least one beetle is accidentally discovered in the kitchen, there is already a whole colony of them somewhere and you need to urgently decide how to get rid of the pests. You need to start fighting the beetle immediately, before it destroys all supplies.

The granary weevil is one of the most dangerous pests of grain stocks

The fight against weevils is carried out according to a simple scheme of actions:

1. It is necessary to check all stocks of bulk products - cereals, pasta, flour, tea, coffee, cocoa, spices, etc. Products that have been heavily infested should be thrown away without regret, since the secretions of these beetles and their larvae can cause serious harm to human health .
2. Grains and products in which the weevil was not found, and all recently purchased ones, should be placed in the freezer for several days. Cold effectively helps fight weevils. These insects are heat-loving; at +5°C they fall into torpor, and at -5°C the beetles and larvae die within a few days.
3. Another means of combating weevils is heat. This beetle can withstand temperatures of +40°C for no more than two days, and at higher temperatures it dies in a few hours. Products that require preventive heating are placed in the oven and kept there at a temperature of 50-60°C for 6 hours. This will get rid of the beetles and their larvae.
4. After treatment with cold or heat, the products must be poured into hermetically sealed glass or plastic containers into which the pest cannot penetrate.
5. Garlic is often used as a folk remedy to repel weevils. A few cloves are placed in each container of cereals or pasta. It is important that the garlic cloves are well peeled, but the pulp is not damaged - damaged cloves quickly give off their smell to the grain and rot themselves. The same thing happens if you cut the garlic cloves into slices. An intact clove retains its repellent odor for a long time and does not rot.
6. For preventive purposes, all furniture where food is stored is thoroughly cleaned from time to time using a soap solution, and then washed off with water to which a little vinegar is added. After cleaning, the furniture is dried and ventilated.
7. To repel insects, strong-smelling lavender flowers and bay leaves are placed in cabinets and on shelves.

Detection of pests and control of them will be easier if you follow the rule - avoid creating abundant stocks, which will be stored for a long time without movement, becoming a comfortable habitat for beetles. It is easier to remove beetles when stocks are compact.

The question of how to deal with weevils in grain is faced by everyone who grows and stores cereals. This insect was known back in ancient Egypt.

Ways to fight in an apartment

When rice weevils appear in the house, it is recommended to begin combating the pest immediately, without waiting for the colony to develop. You can get rid of insects using folk remedies and chemicals. Also, mechanical methods are chosen as control measures, involving sorting out cereals and changing the climatic conditions in the house.

Chemicals

Chemical agents against rice weevils are recommended to be used before harvesting. These drugs are used to treat crops in the garden, both for prevention purposes and when signs of infection appear. Similar products are also used to disinfect barns and other large storage facilities.

Some of the best insecticides recommended for rice weevil control include:

1. Kinmiks. Before treatment, 2.5 ml of the product must be diluted in 10 liters of water.
2. Iskra-M, Karbafos-500, Fufanon. 10 ml of any of the above drugs should be mixed in 10 liters of water.
3. Decis. 2 ml of the drug is mixed in the same volume of water.
4. Fitoverma. It is used for processing grain crops during the flowering period. To prepare the solution you will need 2 ml of Fitoverm and 10 liters of water.

It is not recommended to use insecticides at home. This is explained by the fact that in the fight against weevils, fumigant drugs are used, which in the form of steam penetrate the pest’s body and provoke stomach spasms. Such insecticides can cause a similar effect upon contact in humans.

Mechanical

Mechanical methods mean cleaning storage areas from grain residues and dust, which may contain eggs, larvae or adult weevils. After purchase, it is recommended to sort the grain and store it in tin or plastic containers.

Temperature changes

Rice weevils are most active at +10-15 degrees. Therefore, thermal treatment methods are used in pest control. To prevent the spread of insects around the house, purchased grain should be placed in the refrigerator for 5-10 days. At temperatures below +5 degrees, paralysis of the body develops, which subsequently leads to the death of the beetles. In the freezer, death occurs within an hour.

Heating grains in the oven is also used in pest control. At temperatures above +50 degrees, adult beetles and larvae die.

Folk remedies

Before placing purchased cereals in containers, it is recommended to wash storage areas (boxes) with soapy water and treat them with diluted vinegar. To prevent infection and repel pests, the following should be placed next to the infected grains:

• garlic cloves;
• lavender leaves;
• lavender essential oil;
• orange peels;
• mint leaves;
• clove seeds;
• Bay leaf.

The smell emitted by these plants is unpleasant for weevils. If the insect is found in peas, then it is recommended to add a small amount of dry red pepper to the container.

To prevent the appearance of beetles, nails or metal wire should be placed in bags of cereals or pasta.

Prevention against granary weevil

It is important to follow preventive measures:

• Before pouring into bunkers, grain must be cleaned of weeds and grain impurities;
• separate grain storage for different harvest periods and different humidity levels;
• thoroughly clean containers of last year’s grain stocks and debris;
• monitor grain moisture content (not lower than 14%); in case of long-term storage, this indicator is recommended to be reduced by 2-4%, which increases the grain’s resistance to damage by weevils and limits the vital activity of this pest;
• destroy contaminated stocks.

In case of severe infestation, it will be necessary to fumigate the grain and storage facilities with preparations intended for this purpose.

As preventive methods, it is imperative to maintain cleanliness and order in warehouses, treat them chemically (by gas disinfestation, aerosol and wet disinfection of warehouses), and whitewash them before loading grain.

Checking grain for infestation with barn weevil should be done every 2 weeks in the summer and once a month in the winter. Contamination analysis is carried out in accordance with regulatory methods and standards.

How to prevent weevils

Food quality control and regular external inspection of food supplies are necessary. Periodically carry out a general cleaning of the cabinets: treat the shelves with soap or vinegar solution, throw away expired cereals. It is recommended to store baby food on a separate shelf. Kitchen utensils are also stored separately from groceries.

Measures to prevent food contamination by weevils;

1. The optimal place to store grain and bulk products is a glass or metal jar with a tight-fitting lid. It is not allowed to store food in bags.
2. Temperature – up to 10 ºС, low humidity level.
3. Every week inspect flour, cereals, grains, dried fruits, tea, spices.
4. Before using, sift the flour through a fine sieve.
5. Treating shelves and cabinets for storing food with a weak vinegar solution - the pungent smell repels weevils.

If grain is stored in the house:

1. Before pouring into the bunker, clean the wheat from weeds.
2. Store fresh harvest separately from last year's.
3. Clear containers of debris and treat with a weak vinegar solution.
4. Damaged stock cannot be stored and must be destroyed.
5. Humidity control: not lower than 14%.
6. It is important to check warehouse stocks: in summer - 2 times a week, in winter - once a month. Periodically make pheromone and glue traps to detect new foci of infection.
7. Carrying out scheduled work in a grain warehouse: cleaning, drying, cooling, ventilation of the room.

Simple and affordable methods will help you get rid of weevils in your apartment and industrial warehouses forever. Timely destruction of the insect and stopping its reproduction will prevent spoilage of food and house plants.

Characteristic features of weevils

The barn weevil is a brown, almost black beetle. The average length of its body is 2-4 mm. The barn weevil does not fly, although it has hard, underdeveloped wings. The beetle got its name because of the special shape of the head structure: from the body to the “nose” it narrows, forming the so-called rostrum with a powerful gnawing mouthpart at its end. Thanks to this unique weapon, the granary weevil easily penetrates the hard shell into the soft tissues of the grain.

The beetle is voracious; it has no obvious preferences in choosing food - it absorbs reserves of any cereals and legumes. The biggest damage comes from weevil larvae. The larva looks like a worm, but this “worm” is endowed with short legs on the front of the body and a head armed with powerful mandibles. The body of the larva reaches 4 mm in length.

After emerging from the egg, the larva bites into the grain on which it feeds, leaving only the shell intact.

Immediately after emerging from the egg, which the female places at the very bottom of a specially gnawed channel in the grain, the larva begins to devour the surrounding grain tissues to the outermost hard shell. The “saturation” period lasts from a month to three, depending on temperature conditions. Then it becomes a pupa, and 1-3 weeks later - an adult beetle that gnaws outward from the grain.

The beetle has a considerable lifespan - about one and a half years. During her life, one female can lay up to 250 eggs. The longer a beetle goes unnoticed in food, the more difficult it is to get rid of it.

Many experts recognize the rice weevil as a more dangerous species. Externally, it is slightly different from the barn weevil in color - it is matte brown with two reddish spots on the wings, and in size - the rice weevil is smaller, its maximum body length is 2.8 mm. But these are secondary distinguishing features. The main difference is that the rice weevil flies well, this gives it a huge advantage and increases its danger.

Professional pest control

If you can’t get rid of weevils on your own or they have infested your home too much, you should contact a special service. In this case, you can be sure that pests will be destroyed in all possible places of residence. The methods used by exterminators to combat insects are as follows:

1. The cold fog method works on the principle of mixing pesticide vapors, which are cooled in a generator and mixed with air. A kind of fog is formed, which settles on all objects that have been infected.
2. The hot steam method is most effective for large warehouses. Here they use hot steam, gasoline or gas.
3. Barrier protection is used to block all possible cracks through which weevils could enter the stock. Typically, this method is used as the primary one.

Important!

After using any methods to kill insects, be sure to wash the cabinet shelves and dry them. The kitchen, and best of all, the entire home should be well ventilated so that foreign odors do not cause illness to family members and animals.

Where do weevils come from?

Quite often weevils appear in the apartment. Where they come from is of interest to many people, since bugs pose a great danger. The insect destroys all products it can reach. This pest quickly adapts to a new environment and tolerates various natural changes quite freely.

The person himself introduces weevils into the house along with food from the store or market. Cereal products become infected with them while still in the warehouse, and then end up on packaging and store shelves.

When purchasing products with weevil faces and eggs in a store, it is very difficult to notice them, since the grains remain clogged inside. And only when an adult emerges from them will it be possible to notice traces of damage and the bugs themselves.

How to destroy weevils using folk remedies?

At home, folk remedies are used to combat weevils. The most proven methods for ensuring the safety of products from the barn weevil:

1. You should carefully inspect your inventory. If signs of the presence of weevils are found, the products should be thrown away, since the secretions of weevils and their larvae are dangerous to human health. This is the simplest and most proven method.
2. Insects do not like strong odors. Place cloves of garlic, lavender or bay leaves in a container with flour products.
3. The barn weevil does not tolerate high or low temperatures. Therefore, grain, flour, cereals, pasta can be kept in the oven at a temperature of 60°C and stored in the freezer. If food is kept at a temperature of -5°C for about a month, the beetles and their larvae will die.
4. Products should be stored in glass or plastic containers with tightly closed lids that weevils cannot penetrate. If traces of weevils are found in one container, you need to check the others.
5. Cabinets in which food is stored should be wiped with soapy water or vinegar solution.

You should not create large reserves of food that weevils and their larvae feed on.

How to deal with weevils in an apartment

How to get rid of barn weevil after finding it in an apartment?

There are simple and effective ways to combat the pest, based on the characteristics of its life and reproduction:

• check all stored cereals, tea, cocoa, coffee, pasta and flour in which weevils can settle and, if you find traces of their presence, get rid of these products, since the secretions of weevils and their larvae are carcinogenic;
• since weevils and their larvae die already at -5 ºC, you can place not yet infected products, in which pests can settle, in the freezer for 2-3 days. For preventive purposes, you can do this with all the cereals, flour and pasta that you buy;
• Weevils also die when heated to 40 ºC for two days, and if the heating is increased to 60 ºC, then in six hours, so it makes sense to heat the cereal in the oven;
• It is better to store already disinfected products in glass or plastic, hermetically sealed containers that will be difficult for the beetle to chew through. Place whole, peeled cloves of garlic in jars with cereals and pasta, you can put 2-3 nutmegs in the flour, and sprinkle a little hot pepper into the peas and beans;
• shelves and surfaces on which there are containers with cereals, flour or pasta are treated from time to time, first with a soap solution, and then with water and table vinegar, and after treatment, cloves, bay leaves or lavender flowers are laid out on them;
• To make it easier to monitor the condition of the products, do not stock too much unnecessarily.

Danger to humans

A distinctive feature of the life activity of these pests is that they make unusable garbage from bulk food products.

In addition, the weevil beetle can cause allergic reactions in humans. The main problem is the appearance of allergic alveolitis. The fact is that the beetle leaves a chitinous shell in flour, which is a carcinogen. Baking from such flour can lead to gastrointestinal upset. And that's not all, beetles carry fungal pathogens and bacteria.

Food storage rules

To store cereals and pasta, it is recommended to purchase containers made of food-grade plastic, glass or stainless steel with tight-fitting lids. It is not recommended to use paper bags, as weevils can easily gnaw through them. Before reusing the container, wash it with a solution of salt and soda. To do this, dilute 1 tsp. in 1 tbsp. water. Mustard and vinegar, taken in the same proportions, help.

Bulk foods should be stored in dry containers in a cool, dark place, preferably on the bottom shelf of a kitchen cabinet. To repel insects, place dried orange peel at the bottom of the container.

Source

Extermination of fruit pests

Killing insects in summer cottages and gardens is no less difficult than killing weevils in stored grain. Treatment is planned in late spring, during flowering periods. They pay attention not only to trees, but also to currant bushes, gooseberries, strawberries, berries, and grapes. Timely spraying with special preparations has a positive effect. The procedure is repeated 2-3 times to completely remove the pest.

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