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How to Kill Weevils by Leaving Food Outside in the Cold

Weevil is a common name for various species of beetles of the snout beetle family, also known as the Curculionidae family. They are typically small, hard-bodied insects with an average length of about 1/4 inch. The snout of a weevil is well-suited to boring in to the bodies of plantsand they can quickly infest many food products, such as grain. Cold is one method of killing weevils.

Things You'll Need

Thermometer
Foot container

Instructions

- 1
  Place the food in a sturdy container or have a sturdy container outside which the food can be placed in. Leaving food outside in cold temperatures may kill the weevils but leave your food exposed to other insects and larger animals looking for a snack.
- 2
  Leave the food outside for three days to kill the weevils. Ideally, it should be in a spot that experiences little or no sunlight, such as on the north side of a house, to help keep the temperature of the food as low as possible.
- 3
  Monitor the temperature outside with a thermometer. The temperature must remain below 0 degrees Fahrenheit for all three days to kill the weevils.
- 4
  Place the food in a freezer if the temperature rises above 0 degrees Fahrenheit. The food can be placed back outside when the temperature falls below 0 degrees Fahrenheit.

Insects & Science