About 97,000 species of weevils are known. Some other beetles, although not closely related, bear the name "weevil", such as the biscuit weevil (Stegobium paniceum), which belongs to the family Ptinidae. Mainly they have an oval body shape, or they are slender looking. They can be either 3mm long or as big as 10 mm. Learn more about the types of cookies we use. In a worst-case-scenario, you might need to put all of your dry staples in the freezer or toss them, have an exterminator come, and leave your home until the fumes settle. Some species of weevils feed on the same foods that humans do. The larvae feed on the roots of strawberries, evergreens—such as arborvitae, spruce and Japanese yew—raspberries and other brambles, grapes and many other plants. It isn’t uncommon to find weevils in bags of rice and flour, boxes of cereal or in similar types of foods such as dried noodles and pasta. Moths tend to be worse than weevils because they can fly all over your home. Weevils are beetles belonging to the superfamily Curculionoidea, known for their elongated snouts. Weevils can be very destructive, depending on the species. For example, grain weevils – also called wheat weevils – can cause devastating economic loss to stored grain by eating it. Whether indoors or out, weevils only eat plants, nuts, seeds, grain, fruits, roots, etc. Some species of weevils can fly, so will enter through windows, doors and other openings that are not properly sealed. © 2019 The Terminix International Company Limited Partnership. They aren’t known to carry or transmit any diseases or parasites. The species of the weevil defines its length. But, weevils have six legs and ticks have eight. Weevils don’t make it as far but don’t be surprised if you find them in your kitchen cabinets. Many weevils can’t fly, so will crawl under doors, into cracks around windows and the foundation, or even hitch a ride inside after being inadvertently packed into food by manufacturers. Larvae and nymphs don’t have wings yet, so they can’t until they reach adulthood. Weevils prefer to be outdoors, but when the weather is too hot and dry, they seek shelter in structures. Here are some frequently asked questions about the behavior of weevils, such as ‟what do weevils do in your home” and ‟how did they get there?”. Crop and agricultural destruction comes from the weevil’s eating habits combined with its reproductive habits. For instance, the aquatic leaf weevil is sometimes introduced to watery environments where weeds have taken over. And due to its reproductive habits, the boll weevil almost single-handedly destroyed the southern cotton industry around the time of the Great Depression. The adult rice weevil can fly, and lives up to five months, with the female laying up to 400 eggs during her lifetime. Yes, adult weevils have a developed wingspan and are capable of flight. Weevils are actually small, reddish-brown beetles that may be able to fly. Other weevils can be used for the biological control of nuisance plants. Weevils usually have a … They are simply a nuisance that can cause monetary loss in the form of food and plant life. Weevils pose no physical threat to humans. Completely clean your pantry and store your flour in hard, airtight containers. A weevil is a beetle that can be found in a wide range of colors and sizes. Remember, it only takes ONE moth or weevil to … Strawberry root weevils do not fly. Need help? They are usually small, less than 6 mm ( ⁄4 in) in length, and herbivorous. This weevil lays its eggs inside the bolls of cotton and when the eggs hatch, the young weevils eat their way out, destroying the crop. So if you have weevils in your home, don’t ask, ‟what do weevils do?” Ask what you can do to get rid of them.