Do Bean Weevils Infest Other Grains?

Do Bean Weevils Infest Other Grains?

Bean weevils mainly attack legumes, but they can also affect other foods, so don't let your guard down.

Bean Weevils' Favorite: All Kinds of Beans

Bean weevils are especially fond of legumes. Different weevil species have their preferred hosts:

• Mung bean weevil — loves mung beans and adzuki beans most
• Broad bean weevil — targets broad beans specifically
• Pea weevil — attacks peas
• Common bean weevil — goes after kidney beans, green beans, and similar
• Soybeans can be infested too, though they're relatively more resistant

Will Bean Weevils Eat Other Grains?

As long as beans are plentiful, bean weevils stick to beans. But in the following situations, they may spread to other foods:

• When beans run out, hungry larvae may attack nearby lotus seeds or peanuts
• Some grains, if stored under especially poor conditions, may suffer minor infestation
• But bean weevils have very little interest in rice, flour, or noodles

How Bean Weevils Spread

Adult bean weevils can fly and actively search for new food sources:

1. They fly out of infested beans
2. Fly to other parts of the kitchen looking for new beans
3. Fly back and forth inside cabinets, contaminating other foods
4. Lay eggs on new beans when you're not looking

What to Do After Finding Bugs in Your Beans

• Don't just deal with the obviously infested beans
• Check all legumes and related dry goods throughout the house
• Look through rice, flour, and mixed grains too, just to be safe
• Even the uninfested ones should be sealed or frozen
• Give the cabinets a thorough cleaning

Summary

Bean weevils mainly damage legumes and have very little impact on staple grains like rice. But if you already have bean weevils in the house, it's still wise to check and treat all dry goods together to prevent cross-contamination. Especially check every type of bean — don't miss a single one.