Granary Weevils

Behavior and Habitat of Granary Weevils

Granary weevils are internal feeders and they cannot fly. When disturbed, Granary weevils play dead by drawing their legs close to their body. They then lie still for several minutes before resuming movement. The female uses her strong mandibles to chew a small hole in a grain kernel, where she deposits a single egg in the hole and seals it with a gelatinous fluid. In warm weather, the Granary weevil can develop from egg to adult in about five weeks. Cold weather prolongs development. Granary weevils are similar to Rice weevils and they are both often referred to as the Snout weevils. They penetrate and feed on the internal portions of whole grains during the larval stage. Granary weevils are usually found in grain storage facilities, food processing plants, and whole foods markets. They will also infest old pasta, table beans, acorns, chestnuts, birdseed, sunflower seeds, and ornamental corn.