Larder/grain beetles, aack!

[Rachel J.]

We what appears to be an infestation of small black/brown beetles. At first I thought they were just coming into the house through cracks like ants have done in the past, maybe looking for water or something since we've hardly had any rain. Now I'm seeing more and more of them and just the other day found them in some dried beans and wheat berries. So now I'm not sure if they were in some food that I brought home or came into the house from outdoors. At any rate, I don't want them ruining all my dry goods (and it would be nice not to have to sweep up the little "mouse terds" every day). Has anyone had experience with this before? What's the best way to get rid of them?

[jillyofthevalley]

We were "blessed" with those little pests a couple years ago. They came into the house in a 20 lb sack of flour (they usually get into the house in food). We had an extra pantry downstairs so I didn't even realize we had them until they were out of control. Once I had discovered them they had infested 30 lbs of flour and around 30 boxes of macaroni and cheese.

To get rid of them, throw out all infested food items in a garbage bag and remove immediately from the house. Empty you cupboards and give them a good vacuum and wipe down. Take the vacuum bag out of the house as well.

Now any new grains/dry goods I bring into the house go into the deep freeze to kill off anything that may be lurking. It's usually just the larva that's living in your grains when you bring them home. They hatch in your cupboards. The freezer will kill any larva that may be there. Then I store everything in airtight glass jars, just in case. If something does end up hatching it's contained and I only have to throw out one food item and not my whole pantry.

[Denvergirlie]

You most likely have weevils.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weevil

Do they look like that?