Weevils, grain borers and flour beetles can eat several percent of stored grain a season, more in warm, humid stores.
How they get in
From infested old grain, dirty bags and floors, cracks in the store, and from the field with the harvest.
Prevention first
- Clean the store thoroughly before new grain: sweep, remove old residue and spillage.
- Dry grain to safe moisture; insects slow greatly in dry grain.
- Use clean, sound bags, and stack on pallets away from walls.
- Seal cracks and keep doors and vents screened.
- Inspect every two weeks: look for flour dust, holes in grains, live insects, warm spots.
If infested
Isolate the lot, clean and sieve, and use approved treatments or fumigation by trained persons only, following local rules. Never use unapproved chemicals on food grain.
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