How to get rid of weevils in an apartment?

Weevils are small beetles that can appear in an apartment. They destroy stocks of cereals and other products, and some species can encroach on indoor plants. It is worth getting rid of insects as soon as possible - such a neighborhood not only causes inconvenience, but also carries some harm to health.

Weevils have annoyed people for centuries - the first mention of them was recorded in the days of Ancient Egypt. These beetles are small in size, the body of an adult does not exceed 3-4 mm in length, so it is difficult to notice them when they just appeared and have not yet had time to breed. The color is usually dark brown.

In total, there are more than 55 thousand species of these beetles in the world, but only certain species usually live in an apartment.

• Granary. They quickly eat cereals, grain, as well as flour, they can also gnaw pasta. Very voracious insects of dark brown or black color.
• Rice. Small, with red spots on the body. They look slightly different from their counterparts of other species, as they have developed wings. First of all, they eat rice, but they also do not disdain cereals.
• Corn. These are larger beetles, can reach 5-6 mm when they grow up. They have light spots at the base of the wings.
• Nut. Omnivorous, they lay their larvae in fruits. If this beetle ends up in the kitchen cupboard, it will spoil all the food.
• Vegetable or fruit. They often settle in the garden and feed on flowers, roots, and buds of plants. They also eat ripe fruits and vegetables. If they appear in the apartment, they can not only destroy food supplies, but also get to indoor plants.

All types of beetles are highly fertile - the female can lay 300 eggs at a time. If nothing is done, insects will quickly multiply, once in the kitchen. In addition to spoiling food, pests are also dangerous to humans. Although they do not bite, weevils can carry fungi and harmful bacteria, and their presence can cause an allergic reaction.

Even if you carefully monitor the cleanliness of the house, not neglecting the cleaning, bugs can appear in the kitchen. As a rule, they get into the dwelling from somewhere outside, the hostess can bring them from the store along with a bag of cereals, rice, nuts or flour. Beetles start up in the warehouse or in the barn, if the manufacturer does not take protective measures, and then they end up in ordinary apartments along with prepackaged products.

You can try to get rid of pests on your own. If there are not many of them, then simple folk methods will do to remove weevils. You don't have to do anything complicated, there are usually suitable tools in the kitchen, but you need to fight in a complex way, processing not only supplies, but storage places.

It is better to send contaminated products with obvious traces of insects directly to the garbage chute.If there are cereals or other supplies nearby that seem clean on the outside, they can be processed just in case. Temperature exposure is mainly used. Pests are afraid of freezing and heating, it is worth taking advantage of this to eliminate unwanted neighbors.

• Supplies should be put in small bags and placed in the freezer, leaving there for 3-5 hours. The low temperature will kill the larvae.
• You can also sprinkle the cereal on a baking sheet in a thin layer and put in the oven for 20 minutes, heating to 50 degrees. Heat for larvae is no less destructive than cold.
• A microwave oven is also suitable - in it, products are processed for several minutes at maximum power.

It is not recommended to use chemicals in the kitchen. Usually insecticides are used if insects destroy indoor plants, and such treatment must be carried out in a safe manner. To combat weevils, the following remedies are suitable.

• Intavir. A preparation based on cypermethrin, designed to remove pests that eat houseplants. The composition is toxic, therefore it is recommended to work in a respirator and properly ventilate the room. Also, do not spray the product near the aquarium - its inhabitants may suffer from fumes.
• "Fufanon". Effectively destroys insects, is available in the form of an oily emulsion. When working with it, care should be taken to ensure that pets do not come into contact with this product.
• Karbofos. Composition based on sulfur-phosphorus compounds. Insects consume it with food and die. Toxic to humans and pets, safety precautions must be followed.

There are also preparations intended solely for application to the soil. Unlike the listed insecticides, they are safe for humans, animals and plants, they destroy only pests. These funds include "Nemabakt", "Aktara", "Antonem-F". They disinfect the ground well, but if the beetles have settled somewhere else, then the treatment will be useless. Pests must be completely destroyed so that they do not multiply again.

Not everyone succeeds in getting rid of weevils on their own. Sometimes they can hide in hard-to-reach places. If the struggle does not bring results, it is better to seek professional help. They usually use the following methods.

• Cold fog. The solution is supplied under pressure and cooled by a generator. The output is a hazy cloud that gradually settles on all surfaces in the room. Small droplets of vapors penetrate well even into hard-to-reach places and crevices.
• Hot fog. The method is similar to cold processing, but when heated, the vapor droplets are smaller, due to which they better penetrate everywhere, and the effect is more effective.
• Barrier protection. The method is used for prophylaxis, to block cracks and cracks, if there is a possibility that insects got into the apartment in this way.

There are guidelines to help prevent pests. Better to spend a little time and take care of this in advance, so that later you do not run into unpleasant guests. Prevention includes the following actions.

• Regular cleaning of food storage areas. It is worth periodically sorting out cereals and other supplies, keeping cleanliness and throwing out expired food on time.
• The correct choice of packaging. Glass jars with tight lids are best.You can also use plastic or metal containers that are hermetically sealed to prevent insects from entering. But paper or cellophane bags are not the best option, beetles can easily overcome such an obstacle.
• Elimination of high humidity. Pests love dampness and tend to such places. You can use salt to help absorb excess moisture.
• The use of natural remedies. Weevils do not like certain smells, so you can put some spices in the closet between supplies: garlic, nutmeg, bay leaf.

In addition, it is advisable not to buy too many products at once - due to the large volumes, it is difficult to notice if something goes bad or pests appear. It is also worth choosing trusted stores where there are no questionable products. It is not recommended to purchase cereals that are sold by weight and are on the shelves in an open container - insects could easily get there. Compliance with these measures will help protect the apartment from weevils.