If you’ve noticed some small, pear-shaped insects around your grains, chances are you’ve got weevils in your house. Naturally, you’ll want to get rid of them, but first, you need to know if they pose any risk to your family or pets. Can these insects bite you or hurt you in any way?
So Do Weevils Bite People or Pets?
Theoretically, there are two main reasons why weevils could bite a human or a pet. The first would be the need to feed on human or animal blood; this is the case with fleas, for example. The second reason would be for weevils to bite as a form of defense if they felt threatened, just like bees when they sting you.
In reality, neither of these reasons stands. Although they might seem dangerous, weevils do not bite or feed on humans or pets. These insects are herbivores, primarily feeding on grains and seeds but also some types of fruit. They have no taste for human or animal blood.
Furthermore, weevils are not the kind of insects to attack when they feel threatened. They have jaws that they use to chew through all the grains and seeds, but they never use them to attack their enemies. When weevils feel threatened, their flight instinct is activated; they try to find the nearest point of escape and leave the dangerous situation behind. If they don’t find one, they might play dead.
What Exactly Are Weevils?
Weevils are beetles that have existed for millennia, evolving from eating decaying matter to feeding on grains. They are known for causing significant damage to crops and also infesting houses.
In your home, weevils can be found around grains like rice, cereal, and pasta, as well as flour and cornstarch. They enter your home through an outdoor opening or are already inside the packaged grains you bring home. Weevils lay their eggs and spread pretty quickly, so if you have a weevil infestation, you’ll soon find them on your walls and windows.
Get Rid of and Prevent Weevil Infestations
The best way to deal with weevils is to stop an infestation before it starts. Here are a few steps that can help keep your home weevil-free:
- Store grains in sealed containers. Weevils can’t enter the container. However, there might be eggs in there, which is unpleasant to think about, but nevertheless poses no danger to your health.
- Keep your cupboards clean. Emptying the cupboards once in a while and washing them thoroughly with detergent will keep weevils out.
- Get rid of the traces of any previous infestation. If you manage to trap or kill the weevils around your house, make sure to get rid of them and clean everything with disinfectant.
- Find grain varieties that are resistant to weevils. If your problem is the infestation in your grains rather than your home, you may choose to plant/buy a variety that is immune to weevil infestations.
However, once they’re in, you have to find ways to remove weevils as quickly as possible. You have different options, depending on how serious the infestation is:
- Handpick the weevils. If you’ve only noticed a couple in your kitchen, pick them with a tweezer and discard them.
- Try home remedies. There are many different remedies out there, usually involving some sort of soap, hot water, and vinegar.
- Use traps. You can buy weevil traps online or at your nearest hardware store. They are cheap and quite effective. One downside is that they can’t catch eggs or smaller weevils.
- Use pesticides on your plants. Pesticides kill the weevils and their eggs. However, they are toxic, so be careful when using them.
- Hire exterminators. If none of the above methods work and the infestation has reached alarming levels, turn to professionals. They know what to do, and will make sure every single weevil goes away/dies.
Final Thoughts
Weevils are annoying and unhygienic, but they can’t bite you or your pets because they are strictly herbivores and don’t attack when threatened. However, they can compromise your plants and food, so you need to prevent them from entering your home or get rid of them once they are in.
To prevent weevil infestations, keep everything clean and disinfected, seal your grains well, or plant resistant varieties of grains. To get rid of them, you can try home remedies, pesticides, or exterminators.
