How To Remove Weevils From Bread Naturally
Weevils attack bread and all starchy foods. They also like books. We explain how you can effectively combat this pest and prevent further infestation.
Bread weevils are small beetles of the woodworm family that only grow to a few millimeters in size.
These types of beetles appear in pantries and do not transmit disease, but they are obviously a nuisance. The baked goods, pasta, infusions and starchy foods are the main objectives. The problem is when they appear at home they can become very resistant.
What are bread weevils like and what foods do they attack?
Bread weevils are only about three millimeters in size. Therefore, they are not always recognizable with the naked eye. Their bodies are reddish-brown, and adult beetles can fly. However, it is the larvae of the bread weevil that cause damage. They are white in color and are up to five millimeters long.
The larvae attack baked goods such as bread, but also sponge cakes, cookies, pasta, legumes, chocolate, spices, as well as dried aromatic plants.
Starchy foods like flour and cereals are at special risk. Bread weevils can even eat books.
Fight effectively against bread weevils
Bread weevils are not a threat to your health, so the food affected by their presence is still fit for consumption, after the beetles have been eliminated.
However , if you consume the affected foods slowly, you will not finish eliminating the pest or prevent it from spreading. It is better to do the following to combat it:
- Throw away all contaminated food and also discard open containers that you have stored with visibly affected food.
- If you are not sure which foods are infested by bread weevils, freeze the products for a day or put them in the oven for about half an hour at 60ºC.
- Completely empty the pantry or closet, vacuum the shelves and wipe them with a damp cloth. It is best to add a splash of vinegar to the cleaning water.
- Look for bread weevils on the shelves and dust your books thoroughly at least once a month.
- Place fresh bay leaves in the corners of the kitchen that have been affected. Don’t use dried bay leaf because it doesn’t work. If you squeeze the leaves a little they will be more effective. When you no longer perceive their smell you should change them for a new one.
- In areas that are difficult to access, such as joints or cracks, use the hair dryer at the highest setting to remove the larvae.
- To get rid of the beetles that haunt your food, you can use diatomaceous earth made from algae. It is a natural insecticide, deadly to weevils and insects, but harmless to people. It must be used as indicated by the manufacturer’s instructions.
Prevent bread weevils and other stored food pests
The following tips will help you make sure you do not have to fight bread weevils, that is, to do an active prevention:
- Pests can get into products through plastic film or paper containers. If you are storing biscuits or cookies longer than normal, put them in sturdy storage boxes made of tin, glass, or hard plastic. The same goes for flour. If you do not have this type of container, you can use glass jars with a lid.
- It is best that you transfer your food to airtight containers immediately after purchase. If you buy from a bulk store, you can take your containers and fill them right there.
- Do not store the bread in an open container or bag, but rather in a wooden, clay, or metal bread basket.
- Mosquito nets on windows can help prevent bread weevils from flying into the house and depositing their larvae, and will also protect you from other pesky insects.
