Well, it’s happened again. Another bag of grain that I open up to find filled with weevils! As cute as this little bug is, I don’t quite enjoy the texture and crunch of bugs in my food. That’s why today, we’re going to look into and discuss some Tampa Weevil Control, also some infestation signs and what to do if you find a true infestation.
Tampa Weevil Control: Overview
To begin, you must always know your enemy. Which, just to be clear, is a turn of phrase. Too many people I see get genuinely angry and hateful towards bugs and animals. Even if you’re getting grief from them, you have to think. These aren’t malicious beings. They’re natural creatures doing what they were programmed to do. That doesn’t mean you have to sit there and take it, just try not to get so angry about it! Anyway, back on topic.
Weevils are part of the beetle family, which is a massive group that makes up nearly half of all living insects. And within the weevil family, there are over a thousand estimated species in North America alone! But there are a few common identifying features of weevils.
Many are slender or oval-shaped insects. Depending on the species, weevils range in size from about 3 mm to over 10 mm in length. The most notable feature of weevils is the shape of their head. An adult weevil has an elongated head that forms a snout. The mouth is at the end of the snout. Some weevils have a snout that is as long as the body. Another family of beetles called Bruchidae, such as the cowpea weevil, have a different appearance from the typical weevil. They lack the elongated snout found in the Curculionidae.
Outdoor Weevils
When it comes to weevil infestations, there’s usually one of two ways things usually go. There are the outdoor infesters and the indoor infesters. That’s why today, we’ll be covering both for some Tampa weevil control, and we’ll start with the outdoors.
In all honesty, outdoor infestations are the real kicker when it comes to weevils. They can kill garden plants and damage your lawn.
Weevils can become a serious hazard to your plants and lawn. And in the quest to identify them, there are two main things to look out for. For one, leaves will appear scalloped or notched. A large weevil infestation will even begin to consume leaves entirely, leaving only the main vein still attached. This is a sign of adult weevil feeding, and action will be necessary to save the plant from future feeding by larvae. The young of this species causes more damage than the adults.
Controlling Outdoor Weevils
The best way to control weevils outside is to kill adults. The larvae are hidden in the soil and more protected. The best thing you can do is find the most infested plants and either treat them, or uproot them and throw them out. It’s not easy, but it needs to be done to protect your other plants.
To start, remove mulch and other hiding places from around your plants until the infestation is dealt with. Also, consider watering less if you can. Larvae of the weevil prefer moist soils, so depriving them of that will make your garden less desirable.
Weevils are nonflying insects and have to walk from plant to plant. So one of the easiest ways to prevent weevils is to add Diatomaceous earth to the soil around them.
Diatomaceous Earth is made of diatoms, which are fossilized algae that have been broken down into small white shards that humans shouldn’t inhale. Diatomaceous Earth can be an effective repellent to many crawling insects, including weevils.
In general, you’ll want to apple diatomaceous earth on the dirt around your plants to provide a protective barrier against weevils. Repeat application after waterings and rainfall, as this powder is not waterproof and will disintegrate when wet.
Chickens?
A small aside on our quest for Tampa weevil control here. But natural predation is one of the best things you can do to keep an infestation from getting out of hand. Some pests require the introduction of things like solitary wasps or ladybugs. But weevils have a readymade natural predator that has other uses as well. That’s right, chickens!
Chickens are a great resource. They provide eggs, meat, compost, and pest control all in one. If you have a chicken coop or live on a farm with chickens nearby, you may have some luck in letting the chickens roam around your garden for some time. Of course, you’ll want to keep an eye on them to make sure they don’t run off, but the idea is that the chickens will assist in taking care of your weevil problem for you.
Weevils are also the prey of most larger woodland predators. Things like woodpeckers, armadillos, ladybugs, praying mantis, and a litany of birds. So attracting these types of creatures by using less chemicals on your lawn and garden in general, having birdbaths, and growing food crops can attract these larger predators. In fact, I keep a sort of “sacrificial” batch of summer squash near my main garden so that the raccoons, possums, and other animals they attract can dip into my main garden and pick through the insects there.
Tampa Weevil Control: Indoors
Now, for most indoor pest infestations I’d suggest calling a licensed, naturally specialized pest control company. But inside, weevils are more of a nuisance than a real issue. Weevils contaminate infested food with their feces and cast skins, causing more damage than they eat. So, an infestation may render entire packages or pantries of food inedible. Stored product weevils do not bite and they do not cause damage to dry, decay-free wood inside homes.
Stored weevils are easily dealt with, honestly. You may have to lose a pantry full of food to do it, but just find the infested grains, bread, wheat, lentils, and chuck them out. Careful inspection of items before purchasing can help prevent getting a new infestation. Products with holes or signs of damage on the packaging should not be purchased.