Regardless of what type of bathroom aesthetic you are trying to achieve, you want your bathroom to look clean. The last thing you want is to have insects all over your bathroom. What do you do, then, when you notice that insects like weevils have moved into your bathroom.
Weevils in your bathroom may have entered through a bathroom window screen, wall crack, or vent. To kill weevils in your bathroom you need to clean your drains, fix leaks, seal cracks, and repair damaged window screens. This will prevent weevils from entering or escaping. Use insecticide to kill any remaining bugs. Weevils in your bathroom are often a sign of a larger infestation.
When you notice bugs in your bathroom, the first step to getting rid of them is identifying them. Once you determine what type of pest living in your bathroom you can begin to build an extermination plan. Keep reading to see how to identify weevils and other small bugs found in your bathroom. Then you will learn the five steps to quickly and easily get rid of them.
How To Identifying Weevils In Your House
Weevils are small black and brown bugs that technically belong to the beetle family. There are thousands of weevil varieties that exist on the globe. For the most part, people encounter the “true” weevils that have a snout-like nose and are often found in grains, seeds, rice, and flour.
Weevils are flying bugs that measure between one-eighth inch and one-quarter inch long. They are most easily identified by their long snout-like nose, which separates them from other household pests.
Weevils are found throughout the home, but the bulk of weevils are found in kitchens and pantries. If you are looking for weevils of fear you may have a bit of an infestation, look in areas where there is an abundant food supply.
Since weevils are normally attracted to cereals and grains, it is most common to spot weevils in your kitchen or any other place where food is located. Once weevils are in the home, however, they can be found anywhere, including in your bathroom.
Why Do Weevils Get Inside The Home?
Weevils are often found in the home because there are several elements to homes that are a perfect habitat. These bugs fly, so if you ever have open windows,
Weevils are either looking to hatch, breed, feed, or lay eggs. They are always on the hunt for food or a place near food to lay eggs. There are many places in nature for weevils to thrive, but sometimes your home is even better.
Weevils are attracted to artificial light. For this reason, it is most common for them to enter your home at dusk or any time after sunset. Once weevils are in the home they are always searching for the perfect place to lay eggs, which is near a food source.
Weevils can also find their way into your home in your groceries. While grocery stores should do their best to prevent bug infestations in their products, it does happen. It is important you check all of your dry goods for holes or damaged boxes.
You should also wash all produce like corn, fruits, and vegetables. Many bugs can hide in produce and hitch a free ride into your pantry.
Why Are Weevils In My Bathroom?
Weevils love areas where there is an ample food supply, like kitchens and pantries. This does not mean, however, that weevils will only be found in the kitchen. Once weevils find areas to lay eggs in your home, they will quickly multiply once they become adults.
When enough of these bugs hatch in your home they will start to explore further to locate more areas to breed. While your bathroom may not have a large food source, it is normally a dark area with some bacteria. For these reasons, you may find weevils in your bathroom.
You may also find weevils in your bathroom simply because that is where they have flown into your home. If you notice these bugs in the bathroom, you should check your windows immediately. When your window is closed, make sure it is sealed properly and there are no cracks.
If your window is open make sure you have a screen installed. When you have a screen installed, check for holes or damaged areas. If you are certain the weevils are not coming in from a window there is a good chance you have weevils already breeding and nesting in your home.
Weevils and other bugs can also enter your bathroom through vents and crawl spaces, which are often located in the bathroom. If your vents have holes or are not properly sealed all sorts of pests can find their way in.
Other Small Bugs That Might Live In Your Bathroom
While weevils are bugs commonly found in the home, there are other bugs found in the home. The most commonly found bugs in the bathroom are drain flies. These bugs nest in drains, and are often seen flying close to drain areas.
Mold mites are small bugs that feed off bacteria in drains like soap scum. You can also find common undesirable bugs like silverfish and cockroaches. Luckily, the five steps to get rid of weevils in your bathroom will help eliminate these pests as well.
5 Steps To Get Rid Of Weevils In Your Bathroom
Weevils and other insects in your bathroom can be unsightly and outright gross. You will want to get rid of this problem as soon as possible. Luckily, you can eliminate these bug issues by following a few simple steps.
Step One: Clean And Unclog Your Drains
Clogged shower drains lead to a buildup of bacteria and stagnant water. This also creates a habitat for pests like weevils and other bugs. You can use a drain cleaner that is designed to clear built up soap scum and unclog drains.
You can also use bleach and hot water. This mixture is highly effective in killing bacteria, unclogging buildup in drains and eliminating pests. You should not use this method too frequently though, as bleach is a very strong chemical. Bleach can even potentially damage your drains depending on what they are made of.
You can also try a nontoxic mixture of vinegar and hot water. This mixture will help clean your drain and kill bacteria. It is also highly effective in getting rid of pesky bugs without the dangers of harsher and hazardous chemicals.
Step Two: Fix Leaks And Areas That Collect Water
Water is a breeding ground for bacteria and several bathroom pests. Some insects lay their eggs in this water while others are attracted to the bacteria that builds up.
Regardless of why they like it, many insects are attracted to areas with high moisture levels. The best way to lower the moisture content in your bathroom is to fix all leaks.
Once you fix all leaks see if there are any areas, especially corners, that tend to collect water. If they do, level these areas out to prevent water from collecting on a regular basis.
Step Three: Patch Up Holes, Corners, and Seal Cracks
Weevils come into your home through small cracks and holes. Patching these areas up will prevent them from entering your bathroom from outside.
Additionally, other bugs may use these cracks as possible protected nesting areas. Eliminating these small nooks can also seal up potential nest areas. Use caulk or other appropriate sealant to ensure these areas remain sealed.
Step Four: Spray Infected Areas With Appropriate Bug Poison And Cleaner
Once your bathroom is properly sealed and cleaned, you must ensure any remaining bugs are exterminated. Since you know the type of bugs you are dealing with, you can choose the correct insecticide accordingly.
Tip: Before spraying, be sure to follow instructions correctly, as applications will vary from product to product.
Step Five: Install Or Repair Window And Doors Screens
If you like to have natural flowing air in your home you need to make sure your screens are always in good condition. All it takes is one small home to let in a few bugs. This small number can quickly multiply.
Inspect each screen carefully. If you live in an area where screens corrode quickly you may want to look into longer lasting screens built from alternative materials.
Preventing Future Weevil Infestations In Your Home
- Inspect Your Food Items Before Purchase. One easy but essential way to keep weevils out of your home is by inspecting your food items. It is especially important to check dry goods like flour, cereals, and grains for holes or damaged packaging.
- Check Entrances For Cracks And Damage. Cracks and damaged areas near home openings can also allow weevils to enter your home. Be sure to caulk and seal up these spots whenever you notice them. These small crevices can also provide protected homes for many unwanted pests, so the sooner you address them the better.
- Regularly Repair Window And Door Screens. Screen windows and screened doors are great ways to keep out weevils and other flying bugs. These screens will fray over time and require upkeep. This can be particularly true in areas with harsher climates where metal corrosion happens fast.
- Buy Food Storage Containers. Food storage containers are a great way to block weevils from their favorite habitats. As soon as you bring items like flour, grain and corn meal into your home you should deposit them into air-tight food storage containers.
- Stick To House Cleaning Schedule. Keeping a tidy house does wonders at preventing weevils and other insect infestations. Regularly cleaning your drains, frequently wiping your counters and cleaning your pantry does wonders to minimize bug issues.
Concluding Thoughts On Weevils In Your Bathroom
The last thing you want to see when you are taking a relaxing bath is a family of bugs flying overhead. Weevils in the bathroom are a sign that they have invaded your home elsewhere.
There is a chance they flew in from a window or through a small crack or hole. More likely, however, is that these bugs have made a home in your kitchen or pantry and are looking elsewhere in the home for more breeding areas.
Unclogging your drains, fixing leaks, sealing cracks, and repairing window screens will all help to keep weevils and other bugs out of your home. You can use an insecticide to kill remaining bugs, and be extra clean and cautious to prevent future weevil problems.
Tom Gaffey
Tom Gaffey is an expert writer who currently resides in Washington D.C. Tom has a passion for real estate and home improvement writing, as well as travel and lifestyle writing. He lived the last twelve years in Hawaii where he worked closely with luxury resorts and event planners, mastering his knowledge of aesthetics and luxury products. This is where he found his passion for home improvement and a keen interest in DIY projects. Currently, Tom resides in Washington D.C, and also working on his debut fiction novel.
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FAQs
How do you get rid of weevils naturally? ›
Cloves and bay leaves act as natural repellents to weevils. Place a few bay leaves in your dried food containers to ward off these pests, and position several cloves of garlic around your pantry and kitchen to deter these bugs from making a home in your pantry. White vinegar is also known to kill pesky pantry weevils.
How do you get rid of weevils? ›Wipe the shelves with hot soapy water or a disinfecting spray then wipe again with white vinegar, which is known to kill weevils. Clean any unaffected items such as cans or containers before returning them to the pantry.
Can bleach kill weevils? ›Using heavy chemicals like bleach or ammonia won't have any effect on the pests. Likewise, avoid spraying insecticides in cabinets and pantries where you store food. Many do not work on weevils.
Do weevils go in sugar? ›If you spot web-like filaments in your starchy pantry items such as rice, flour, oats or sugar, or bits of dry dust on shelves and holes in food packets, you could be facing an invasion of insects such as moths or weevils.
How do I get rid of weevils in my bedroom? ›Diatomaceous Earth
Try using food-grade diatomaceous powder, which is another natural weevil repellent. DE is harmless to humans and pets, so coming in contact with it shouldn't cause any trouble. Sprinkle the powder in bed sheets or your kitchen/pantry to keep weevils away.
Q: DO WEEVILS BITE HUMANS? A: No. Weevils feed exclusively on grains, seeds, nuts, roots and even some fruits. Unlike fleas or ticks, they do not have a parasitic relationship to either human beings or common household pets.
How do you trap weevils? ›Adult weevils can also be captured using a pitfall trap constructed from a several-inches-deep, wide-mouthed plastic cup or dish and a funnel or smaller tapered cup. Cut off most of the funnel's spout or the bottom of the smaller cup and insert it snugly into the larger cup with the hole pointed down.
Can weevils make you sick? ›The truth is, weevils are NOT harmful to humans. Accidentally eating them along with your food does not cause any ill effects. What could happen is that they can simply add a different crunch to your food when eaten, something unpalatable even? Food would also not look appealing at all with some weevils as garnishing.
Do weevils like salt? ›One shelf just for baking staples: flour, cornmeal, sugar, powdered sugar, brown sugar, salt (Do weevils like salt?). Another for snacks: cookies, crackers, pretzels. (Luckily, the spices were stored elsewhere. Weevils, it turns out, love spices.
What spray kills weevils? ›To kill weevils for real, treat them with Ortho® Insect, Mite & Disease 3-in-1 or Ortho® BugClear™ Insect Killer for Lawns & Landscapes. Be sure to always follow the label directions. Grain weevils are harmless to people, so they're more of a nuisance than a threat.
What do weevils hate? ›
Use herbs to help deter weevils.
Herbs that may work as weevil deterrents include bay leaf, clove, rosemary, black pepper corns, and garlic cloves. A few bay leaves can be placed inside each grain, flour, and cereal container. Use the other herbs on the pantry shelves, otherwise they may flavor your grains.
Most weevils have the ability to fly (including pest species such as the rice weevil), though a significant number are flightless, such as the genus Otiorhynchus. One species of weevil, Austroplatypus incompertus, exhibits eusociality, one of the few insects outside the Hymenoptera and the Isoptera to do so.
How long do weevils live without food? ›It can last a month (and sometimes more) without food. They also can't fly to feed, but are capable of walking long distances, allowing them to further infest grain storage with ease. Because both the adults and larvae feed on their hosts, granary weevils can be particularly destructive if they are present.
Where do weevils come from? ›Weevils usually infest grains and starches like rice, flour, pasta, and cereals. Weevil infestations that start outside may be the result of fruit trees or gardens, which are also food sources. The insects often gather on the sides of homes and move into cracks and gaps that lead inside.
Do weevils go away on their own? ›Weevils inside homes
These weevils are harmless and temporary and will go away on their own. Their numbers can vary from year to year. If you see many weevils one year, it does not mean that they will be a problem again the next year.
The main reason that you see bugs in your bathroom is easy to remember: moisture. Bugs love moisture and are attracted to any areas where it exists. The best case scenario for an insect is somewhere that has moisture or humidity, and food.
What are the tiny bugs in my bathroom? ›The most common tiny black bugs you may find in the bathroom include roaches, like German cockroaches, who are much smaller than the typical cockroach. You may also see drain flies, which are extremely small and flock to sink and shower drains. You may also see gnats or ants.
How long do weevils live for? ›An adult can then live for up to eight months once it has emerged. In general, adults will eschew light in favour of darkness and are known to feign death if they are handled. If you find you have an infestation, you don't necessarily need to take the same drastic steps as a Roman.
Do weevils fight? ›Among giraffe weevils, however, “I found very quickly that males of all sizes — it doesn't matter how small you are — will fight.” Little weevils just don't pick dumb fights with giants. Overall, guile can compensate for lack of size.
What are weevils attracted to? ›Weevils are a type of beetle that are primarily attracted to wheat and stored grains. In homes, they can infest pantries and make their way into dry food products. In the wild, they are particularly damaging to crops.
What do weevils eat? ›
Their diet consists of items like pasta, flour, cereal and rice. WHAT DO WEEVILS EAT, BESIDES FRUIT, NUTS AND GRAINS? Root weevils will invade your garden and your home. The most common type is the strawberry root weevil, which feeds on the roots of strawberries, raspberries, evergreens and many other types of plants.
Why do I have weevils in my house? ›When weevils find cracks or openings around the windows, they move inside the house. They will also enter through broken screens on attic vents or crawlspace vents. They can also crawl under doors that have damaged weather stripping.
What is a weevil look like? ›The adult is dull reddish brown to black, with four reddish-yellow spots on its back. The larvae are soft, white grubs with no legs. Pupae are similar to adults with long snouts, but they are white.
Do weevils jump? ›In weevils, jumping is performed by the hind legs and involves the extension of the hind tibia.
Are weevils aggressive? ›Weevils are a prolific type of beetle that are best known for their aggressive feeding on plants and grains that people rely on.
What are weevil eggs? ›They are often referred to as flour bugs because that is where they are most frequently found. Weevils do not just eat pantry foods such as grains, cereal, nuts, and dried beans; they lay eggs inside the food. These eggs eventually hatch, and the larvae consume the food to support their growth.
Can weevils get into glass jars? ›Can Weevils Get Into Sealed Packages? Yes, pests like weevils can quickly work their way into sealed packages.
What happens if you eat weevils? ›Weevils are not poisonous, so ingesting them won't cause you any particular harm. These insects are, from a scientific standpoint, a source of protein. Live weevils are a sign that there are no pesticides in your food. Dead weevils in your grains are a sign that there are pesticides.
How do weevils multiply? ›Reproduction. Each female rice weevil is capable of laying four eggs a day and can produce up to 300 eggs in her lifetime. Females perforate kernels or seeds in order to lay single eggs inside. After doing so, the affected grain is sealed with gelatinous secretions.
Can weevils live in carpet? ›Weevil females may lay up 300 eggs and they will hatch when the weather warms. If your tree had weevil eggs they likely hatched in your warm carpet. Vacuum your apartment daily and get rid of vacuum bags far away from your apartment. No follow up pesticides should be necessary.
Do weevils come out at night? ›
Root weevils are a common pest in area home gardens, but the adult weevils are seldom brought to the Extension office for identification. That is because they are nocturnal, feeding late at night and hiding during daylight on the undersides of leaves or beneath debris on the ground.
Are weevils attracted to light? ›About rice and granary weevils
The adults can fly and are attracted to light. The larvae (immature weevils) are legless and creamy-white with a brownish-black head.
Damp Clothes
Since weevils prefer to live in dark and damp areas, then this is the way to catch them. Try to look for damp and dark places in your houses or kitchen cabinets where you think they might probably be nesting and then wet a piece of clothing or towel to put in that area that you find.
Weevils inside homes
These weevils are harmless and temporary and will go away on their own. Their numbers can vary from year to year. If you see many weevils one year, it does not mean that they will be a problem again the next year.
Weevils usually infest grains and starches like rice, flour, pasta, and cereals. Weevil infestations that start outside may be the result of fruit trees or gardens, which are also food sources. The insects often gather on the sides of homes and move into cracks and gaps that lead inside.
What smells deter weevils? ›Since Bay Leaves give a strong tangy smell, it somehow is able to repel small pests and other tiny organisms such as Weevils. This is a common natural repellant that is used when dealing with pests such as Weevils. All you have to do is put Bay Leaves on the grain and flour containers in order to keep the bugs away.
Do weevils spread around the house? ›Weevils can invade homes in great numbers. Sometimes plant-feeding weevils invade homes for shelter from the weather. Occasionally people accidentally bring seed-feeding weevils into the kitchen. Outdoors, weevils eat the leaves of trees, shrubs and plants.
What spray kills weevils? ›To kill weevils for real, treat them with Ortho® Insect, Mite & Disease 3-in-1 or Ortho® BugClear™ Insect Killer for Lawns & Landscapes. Be sure to always follow the label directions. Grain weevils are harmless to people, so they're more of a nuisance than a threat.
Can weevils bite humans? ›Rice and granary weevils are harmless to people, houses, furniture, clothing and pets. They cannot bite or sting and they do not carry diseases. They will not feed on furniture, the house structure or other items. The harm they do is destruction of the seeds they infest and the annoyance of being in the wrong place.
Can weevils make you sick? ›The truth is, weevils are NOT harmful to humans. Accidentally eating them along with your food does not cause any ill effects. What could happen is that they can simply add a different crunch to your food when eaten, something unpalatable even? Food would also not look appealing at all with some weevils as garnishing.
Do weevils like light? ›
Granary weevil
This weevil cannot fly and is not attracted to light. The larvae are legless and white with a dark head. It attacks a variety of grain and grain products.
All three types of weevils lay eggs by boring a small hole in a grain seed and laying a single egg. The tiny larvae, legless, humpbacked worm white in color, develop entirely inside the shell of the seed, transforming into the pupa which then emerges and leaves the seeds as an adult insect.
Do weevils come out at night? ›Root weevils are a common pest in area home gardens, but the adult weevils are seldom brought to the Extension office for identification. That is because they are nocturnal, feeding late at night and hiding during daylight on the undersides of leaves or beneath debris on the ground.
Do weevils like salt? ›One shelf just for baking staples: flour, cornmeal, sugar, powdered sugar, brown sugar, salt (Do weevils like salt?). Another for snacks: cookies, crackers, pretzels. (Luckily, the spices were stored elsewhere. Weevils, it turns out, love spices.
Can weevils get into glass jars? ›Can Weevils Get Into Sealed Packages? Yes, pests like weevils can quickly work their way into sealed packages.
How do you trap weevils? ›Adult weevils can also be captured using a pitfall trap constructed from a several-inches-deep, wide-mouthed plastic cup or dish and a funnel or smaller tapered cup. Cut off most of the funnel's spout or the bottom of the smaller cup and insert it snugly into the larger cup with the hole pointed down.
Can weevils fly? ›Most weevils have the ability to fly (including pest species such as the rice weevil), though a significant number are flightless, such as the genus Otiorhynchus. One species of weevil, Austroplatypus incompertus, exhibits eusociality, one of the few insects outside the Hymenoptera and the Isoptera to do so.
How fast do weevils multiply? ›Reproduction. Each female rice weevil is capable of laying four eggs a day and can produce up to 300 eggs in her lifetime.