Rice weevil (Sitophilus oryzae)

Invasive. Origin of the rice weevil is thought to be India.

Found throughout New Zealand and worldwide

Larvae:

The larvae are white, up to 4.0 mm long and legless.

Adults:

The rice weevil has the typical snout of a weevil and is a reddish brown / black in colour with 4 lighter spots in the four corners of the wing covers. It is 2.5-2.5 mm long and the wing covers have pits in longitudinal grooves.

Female beetles lays 300-400 eggs over their lifetime.

The life-cycle is completed in around 5-8 weeks.

Adults live for 3-6 months.

Despite its name, the rice weevil does not only attack rice, it is a major pest of all whole cereal grains.

Both the adult and larvae feed and cause damage.

The female rice weevil chew a hole in a grain to lay a single egg, which the larva hollows out when feeding.

Adult rice weevils can fly, but are more noted for their ability to climb vertical surfaces, including out of glass jars.

Easily confused with the generally large maize weevil, which looks very similar.

• Check all incoming food materials
• Place all opened food stuffs in sealed plastic containers
• Clear up any food spills