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Rice Weevils in Southwest Florida

Rice weevils are the most destructive stored-grain pest in home pantries. The female bores into individual grains of rice, wheat, or corn to lay eggs. By the time you see adults crawling around, the larvae have been developing inside your grains for weeks.

Peak activity: Year-round
(239) 317-5326

How to Identify Rice Weevils

Look for these specific characteristics before treatment.

  • Reddish-brown to black, about 2-3mm with a distinct long snout
  • Four pale orange or reddish spots on the wing covers
  • Found in rice, pasta, grains, cereal, and birdseed
  • Small round exit holes in individual grains where adults emerged
  • White larvae found inside infested grain kernels
Rice Weevils

Rice Weevils

Low Risk

Not sure what you are seeing? Call us and describe the bug.

Why Rice Weevils Are a Problem

Rice weevils can reduce an entire pantry of grain products to powder if left unchecked. They spread quickly from one opened package to another and can survive in sealed containers if the infestation was already inside when purchased.

How We Treat Rice Weevils

Discard all infested and suspect grain products. Deep-clean pantry shelves, including vacuum treatment of cracks and crevices. Apply a residual crack-and-crevice spray and leave pheromone traps to catch remaining adults. Switch to airtight glass or hard plastic containers to prevent recurrence.

Every treatment plan is tailored to your property and pest pressure. Jason does a full assessment before recommending an approach.

Ready to eliminate rice weevils?

Call now for a free assessment, or request a callback and Jason will reach out within 2 hours.

(239) 317-5326

Rice Weevils Questions, Answered

Look for small round exit holes in individual grains where adults emerged. Heavily infested grain may have a musty smell and look dusty or powdery. Seal a sample in a bag and leave it in a warm spot: weevils will move to the surface within hours if present. You may also see tiny oblong adults crawling on pantry shelves.
Freezing at 0F for 4 days kills all life stages of rice weevils and is an effective preventive measure for bulk grains before storing. However, if an infestation is already established in your pantry, freezing individual bags does not address adults that have already spread to other products.
Adult rice weevils hide in cracks and crevices in pantry shelving and emerge to reinfest new products you bring home. You must discard all infested and suspect products AND treat the empty shelving before restocking. Pheromone traps help detect remaining adults.
Rice weevils do not bite, sting, or transmit disease. They are a nuisance pest and a food safety issue because they render grain products inedible. The damage is economic rather than health-related, but a full pantry infestation can mean discarding hundreds of dollars in food.

Pest Profile

Know Your Enemy

Before Jason can eliminate them, you need to know what you are dealing with.

SW Florida Pest Authority

SW Florida Pest Authority

WANTED

Dead or Eliminated
NUISANCE

Rice Weevils

a.k.a. Sitophilus oryzae, The Grain Borer

Known Crimes
  • 1.Boring into individual rice grains to lay eggs inside
  • 2.Reducing entire bags of grain to powder from the inside out
  • 3.Spreading through sealed packaging purchased at the grocery store
  • 4.Operating undetected for weeks until adults emerge en masse
Last SeenInside your bag of rice. Right now, probably.

Reward

Grain products that are actually grain

Contact SW Florida Pest Authority

(239) 317-5326

Dealing with rice weevils? Call us today.

Jason has been eliminating rice weevils from Southwest Florida homes for over 20 years. Same-day assessments available.

(239) 317-5326
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