Physical Characteristics

The adult granary weevil (or wheat weevil) ranges from 1/8 to 1/4 inches in length, and its pitted pronotum (area behind its head) and elytra (wing covers) are reddish brown to black in color. Like other weevils, it can be identified by its pronounced siphon-like snout. Granary weevil larvae are 1/8 to 1/4 inches in length, white, and thicker in the middle than at the ends, like a croissant.

Granary Weevil

Behavior

The granary weevil infests whole grains. The female bores a hole in a kernel’s outer shell and deposits an egg, which hatches in a few days; the larva then feeds on the kernel’s inner contents. If conditions are optimal, a female adult can lay over 200 eggs. These weevils can’t fly, so they’re dependent on human transport to introduce them to new foodstuffs they can infest.

 

Treatment:

Inspect the above-mentioned items for granary weevils or other pests, keep your kitchen and other areas clean, store items in Tupperware-type containers or sealed glass jars in a dry place, and rotate products, using your older goods first. If you think your granary weevil problem is escalating, call Clark Pest Control. Our highly trained technicians have the expert knowledge to solve your pest problem quickly.



Latin name: Sitophilus granarius