Weevils

Summertime is weevil time.  Like it or not, our grains and our feeds have weevils hatching all season long.  To help customers and the buying public better understand this pest, we pulled information from multiple sources.

All weevils develop to maturity inside the grain kernel.  Two conditions must be favorable in order for weevils to appear.  Those conditions include warmth (temperatures above 80 degrees) and time for hatching to occur.  Grains infested can include wheat, corn, oats, barley, sorghum, buckwheat, and more.

Prevention is always the best strategy even though it is impossible to completely prevent weevil infestation.  Where you store your feed, make sure you clean up any old grains and grain dust on the floor or surrounding area.  Most often its these grains that provide the safe harbor for weevil development.  Aerate feed areas so that circulation can reach between feed stacks.

The Grain Weevil

Any grains that will be stored longer than 6 months (this includes almost all grains used for animal consumption) may need to be treated.  This should always be done professionally because of the high toxicity levels of effective insecticides.  Most reputable feed companies will not use insecticides that could wind up poisonous to the animal eating the feed.  Storing grains in cooler temperatures will never eliminate the pest, but it retards their maturation and appearance.  This seems to be the best and safest approach to control.  In our stores, we use a solution of cedarcide on the floor and walls.

What most people don’t understand is that weevil infestation occurs in the field where the crop is being grown.  Weevils feast on the grain and then leave their eggs on the plant. When the grains are harvested, the eggs hatch. Weevils then eat their way into the grain kernel where they are so protected that that can even survive feed processing.  From there the pest can make its way to feed stores or farm feed rooms.  When the temperature conditions are right, the weevil will emerge from the grain as the crawling pest that we most often see.  If you haven’t had the problem before, just wait…as long as you continue to feed animals, you will eventually see weevils in your feed.

The weevil isn’t poisonous or toxic to pets, or other animals.  They are just disgusting to see.  They don’t carry or harbor any disease, so no worries there.

We can’t speak for all farm stores, but we prefer to keep customers happy.  If you have feed with weevil hatchings, and you prefer not to use it, let us know and we will replace it.  Feeding it won’t cause any problems with your animals, but we prefer to keep you, our customer, happy.