A person sifting the flour.
Many people may be concerned that they have inadvertently eaten flour weevils, but there is usually no reason to worry. Most people have probably consumed them at some point in their lives, and this is not considered dangerous. Still, it’s important for people with weevils to take steps to get rid of them before the bugs get out of control, and weevils can lay so many eggs at once that they can become troublesome very quickly.
Flour.
Meal weevils are small beetles that are also occasionally called snout beetles. These beetles are very small, usually no more than 0.125 inches (0.318 cm) long. They get their name because they like to eat flour and other types of foods that are normally stored in kitchen cupboards that contain a lot of starch, such as cereal, oatmeal, and even baking powder. These weevils can infest any type of food left open in the pantry and will typically lay hundreds of tiny eggs inside any food they have infested. Weevils are so small that many people don’t even realize they have a problem with them until after their young have hatched, and it usually takes about two months for the eggs to hatch once they are laid.
Flour weevils lay eggs in cereals, flour, oatmeal, and other grain products.
While it may be tempting for many people, it’s probably best to avoid getting rid of flour weevils with toxic chemicals. The fact that weevils live in food means that chemicals must be applied directly on or near food, and this can be dangerous. Bay leaves and cloves naturally repel flour weevils and can be safely placed in food containers or scattered in cupboards. Insecticides containing pyrethins, which are natural chemical compounds that repel insects, may also be safe to use on cabinets, but care must be taken to prevent this type of insecticide from coming into contact with food products.
People can usually prevent flour weevils by being careful to keep flour and other grains sealed in airtight containers. Bags or boxes containing processed foods such as cereal, oatmeal, or bread should also be kept tightly closed at all times. Another good way to keep weevils away is to regularly clean crumbs and other types of food debris from inside cabinets. The flour weevil has a good sense of smell and is capable of traveling great distances to inhabit any grain that sits nearby.