If you have food that has weevils, discard it. If you find weevils, throw away the food. You can use the flour or food if you don’t see weevils. You shouldn’t eat any food that could contain them.
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What happens if you eat weevils?
The truth is, weevils are NOT harmful to humans. Accidentally eating them along with your food does not cause any ill effects. They can add a different crunch to your food, something that is unpalatable. Food wouldn’t look appealing with some weevils as it is. First of all, you should always wash your hands before and after handling food.
Secondly, if you are going to eat something that has been cooked, it should be done in a well-ventilated area. Thirdly, do not eat raw or undercooked meat, fish, eggs, or shellfish. Finally, never eat anything that looks like it was cooked in the microwave.
Does all flour have weevils?
Flour “weevils” are found in common household products such as cereals, pastas, cake mixes, powdered milk and cornstarch. Although they can’t feed on whole grains, they can infest them for the dust, powder and flakes that they leave behind. The most common weevil in the United States is the weevil. It is a small, brownish-black insect about the size of a grain of rice.
The larvae are about 1/8-inch long and have two pairs of legs on each side of the body. They feed by sucking the sap from the leaves of trees and shrubs. When they are ready to pupate, the eggs are laid on the underside of leaves, and the larvae hatch in about a week. Adults emerge from their pupal stage in late spring or early summer.
How do weevils get in unopened flour?
Similar to other pantry pests, weevils will feed on whole grains, including rice, flour, nuts, beans, cereals, seeds and corn. Weevils live and feed inside the food, unlike other insects that climb into flour. The female will chew a hole into the flour and lay her eggs inside. Once the eggs hatch, the weevil feeds on the larvae until it is ready to pupate.
The best thing to do is to keep them out of your flour supply. If you have a large amount of flour on hand, you may want to use it to make flour crackers, bread crumbs, and other baked goods. You can also use flour as a fertilizer for your garden.
Can weevils get into unopened bags?
Weevils can chew through cardboard and plastic, which means they can also get into unopened packages of food. If the food is in a bag that isn’t contaminated, you should get rid of excess food packaging. It is difficult to find weevils in packaging because they can hide under the surface. If you notice any of these signs, contact your local pest control company immediately.
Should you throw away flour with bugs in it?
It isn’t anyone’s idea of a good time to eat weevil-infested flour, but rest assured that it won’t kill you. If you notice weevils getting down and dirty in your flour, you can wash it off with warm soapy water and a soft cloth. If that doesn’t work, you may need to use a mild detergent, such as dishwashing liquid, to get rid of them.
