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Finding weevil bugs in flour is not for the faint of heart. Whether they are in larvae form or full grown and moving – it can be an unpleasant surprise. So what can you do about flour bugs? And how can you prevent weevils in the future? Read more to find out.
We had our first experience with flour bugs when we stepped away from using bleached flour. I saved a bag for making play dough – because I knew we would not eat it. Upon opening the bag (which had expired by a few years), there were quite a few bugs! To say I was grossed out was the very least.
Thankfully, we were able to dispose of the flour. We cleared the bugs out without getting an infestation or the bugs sneaking into any other dried goods. We are continuously feeling the blessing to have the ability to buy enough food to have some in stock. And to be ok with throwing out a bag batch of flour without any hesitation. Praise the lord!
If you have ever opened a bag of flour from the store and found bugs in it – congratulations, you have just found weevils! Those tiny little larvae or bugs (if they have hatched) are not a pretty sight and can make your stomach turn enough to want to step out of the kitchen for a little bit.
From flour bugs to flour mites, and everything in between, it is important to take action when you see bugs in your flour. Thankfully, there are a lot of budget friendly ways to prevent the chances of having bugs in your flour (and to get rid of them).
And if you already have them and are trying to get rid of them – there are a few simple steps which make a large impact. And above all else, if you have an infestation – call a professional!
What are Flour Bugs (aka weevils) and how do weevils get in flour?
Flour bugs are harmless (though gross) bugs which are found in dry goods. They can be found in flour, cereal, chips, rice and even pasta though they can also make way to other dried foods like cocoa, sugar, pancake mix, beans, lentils, quinoa, or dried fruit. Weevils can also make their way into bird seed or dog food.
Flour bugs – commonly referred to as ‘weevils’, are little bugs which are found in flour. Bugs lay their eggs in the kernel of grains which can occasionally survive the milling process. Unfortunately, even if you have fresh milled grains – you can still get flour bugs.
Once laid, the flour bugs in the form of larvae can hatch and spread. They love warmth and can hatch (and spread) throughout your flour or other dried goods quickly.
It is important to check your flour for bugs and take action if you see them to ensure you do not breed an infestation.
Treating your pantry when you find flour mites / flour bugs
Once you have flour bugs or flour mites, you will not want to get them again! It is important to treat your pantry when you find weevils as they can grow into an infestation if not caught quickly (gross!).
Thankfully, it is easy to treat for weevil bugs. To get rid of flour mites or flour bugs consider these steps:
- Get rid of the contaminated flour. Do not sift out the eggs, larvae or bugs and use the flour – get rid of the whole bag. Do not eat it!
- Wipe down the counters and cupboards throughly to prevent a spread or infestation. You can also vacuum the flour up as well – just be sure to clean out your vacuum bag after.
- Buy a different brand of flour (and be sure to look for open holes in the bag the next time you buy one).
- Sift any unopened bags of flour and check for weevils. Look for discoloration in your flour, webbing patterns in the flour or any fragments / larvae. Most eggs are too small to see without a microscope, but as the bugs grow – you will see them.
- Call a professional. If you continue to treat your pantry and take action to prevent weevils from entering your home, consider calling a professional. If you have an infestation, a professional may need to come and assist.
How to prevent weevils
There are a few precautions you can use in your kitchen to prevent weevils from entering, though this is not inevitable. While these do not always work, they are actions you can take to try and minimize the changes.
Weevils get into food from eggs that are laid into the crevices of the grain before it is milled (and then packaged). And to make things even worse – they can eat through packages. It does not matter if the package is plastic or paper.
- Mill your own grains! Though eggs are laid directly onto the grains themselves, milling your own flour is going to give you the freshest flour possible. This would lessen the chances for eggs to hatch – also because of how they are stored and used right away so they do not go rancid.
- Store your flour in an air tight container. Mylar bags or a glass jar with a metal lid are great for this!
- You can also vacuum seal your flour.
- Put bay leaves or cloves in your flour (or store it around it).
- Just be sure to remove it before you bake!
- This can make your flour taste a little different due to the strength of the flavor of these spices.
- Place garlic cloves around where you store your flour.
- Refrigerate or freeze your flour (at least 7 days but you can do it indefinitely).
- This will kill the eggs in your flour.
- Sprinkle food grade diatamaceous earth around the corners / floor of your food storage area.
- It is important not to get this into your flour – keep it sealed and packaged.
- Bake your flour in the oven (at 350 degrees for 30 minutes).
- Avoid purchasing bags with holes in them at the supermarket.
- Use essential oils. There are several essential oils which discourage flour bugs including tea tree, eucalyptus, neem and pine. You can make a repellent spray or soak cotton balls and place them around your pantry.
- Be sure whatever oils you are using do not get in contact with the food you are eating.
- Store flour, grains and dried goods off the ground. This reduces the chances of flour bugs (or other animals) from getting into your flour and wrecking havoc.
Other bugs in flour
There can be other bugs in your flour that do not look like a flour bugs. These can include bugs which can roam around homes like beetles, moths, ants, grain mites, or cockroaches.
The action to remove bugs from flour is the same as those discussed above. Be proactive and be sure to treat where your flour is stored (and if you need to, your home).
Have you ever had weevils in your flour? Let us know your experience in the comments below!
