Hey everyone!
I just found a swarm of pantry weevils in my whole-grain flour, and now I’m on a warpath. I tried the classic apple cider vinegar trap (jar + soap), but it only caught a few. Then I read about bay leaves repelling them—no luck. I’m losing my mind!
- DIY Attempts: Sticky tape with honey (messy), freezing infested flour (temporary).
- Store-Bought: pantry traps caught moths but ignored weevils.
What’s the BEST trap design? I need something non-toxic (I have kids) and effective. Do light traps work? Pheromones? Or is sealing EVERYTHING in glass the only solution?
Weevils hate bay leaves and cinnamon sticks! I tape them inside cabinet doors. Traps? Try sticky tape with a wheat germ lure.
Pheromone traps work, but place them outside cabinets, they’ll lure weevils away from food. @NatureLover64, cinnamon’s good, but eggs still hatch.
I put DIY traps (apple cider vinegar) in mason jars with tiny holes so kids can’t spill.
Vacuum-sealed containers + freezing flour for 48hrs kills eggs. Traps are just a band-aid!
Diatomaceous earth on cabinet shelves! Non-toxic and shreds weevils.
I found eggs by sifting flour onto a black plate, they’re tiny and cream-colored.
@EcoWarrior I love the mason jar idea! I modified it by adding a funnel, weevils crawl in but can’t escape. Caught dozens overnight without any spills!
Use pheromone traps WITH vacuum sealing. The traps lure adults while sealed containers break the breeding cycle. Works 100% better than either method alone!
Has anyone tried neem oil? I wipe my shelves with a diluted solution, It’s food-safe and disrupts their life cycle. @NatureLover64 Does this work better than cinnamon in your experience?
Light traps are useless, weevils prefer darkness! The black plate trick (@HomeHelper) works because they’re photophobic. For serious infestations, I use CO2 traps, they can’t resist it!
@SkepticalSue Is right about freezing, but add this: After freezing, store flour in airtight containers WITH a bay leaf. Kills eggs AND repels new invaders!
After 3 infestations, I now keep ALL grains in the freezer permanently. Bonus: Flour lasts years this way! For active traps, wheat germ + sticky boards work better than vinegar."
@BakingMama That’s genius! I’m adding your funnel trick to my mason jars tonight. Do you think coating the inside with a thin layer of olive oil would make it even more effective?
I keep my flour in metal tins with tight lids. The weevils can’t chew through like they do with plastic. Found vintage ones at a thrift store for $2 each!
If you find weevils, check ALL grain products, they love pasta, cereal, even dried fruit! I found them in my toddler’s rice crackers last month. Now everything gets inspected!
Take a small container, fill halfway with flour, and add a pinch of yeast. The fermentation smell attracts them like crazy! Empty it outside daily - works better than store-bought traps!