Weevils.

[No]

How do you get rid of the damn things once they start swarming the house? And everywhere else for that matter...

[Danneaux]

Hi No!

Assuming they are really weevils (flour bugs), the best approach I know is shown in photos here: http://www.wikihow.com/Get-Rid-of-Weevils-(Flour-Bugs)

A bit more detail on how infestations occur is here: http://www.thekitchn.com/how-to-prevent-get-rid-of-grai-140955

The main thing is to deprive them of their food supply.

Of course, in some cultures, they would be considered an added source of protein and baked right into the cookies and breads, but that doesn't go over as well with many, so the best approach is to starve 'em by using sealed plastic containers to deny them access to future food sources, particularly flours and grains.

Best,

Dan.

[No]

The only ones I've seen have been intent on eating caulk, the drywall I guess but I haven't noticed any drywall or caulk missing, and outside plants. I still don't know why they come inside.

[Danneaux]

No,

You have my sympathy and empathy when dealing with bug problems.

When I lived for a year in Oxford, Mississippi, I had to deal with not only the native cockroaches, but the Madagascar Hissing Cockroaches that were simply huge at 7.6cm in length (see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Madagascar_hissing_cockroach ). They escaped from Ole Miss' (University of Mississippi's) biology department and found the local environment to their liking. When confronted, they flattened and hissed like angry housecats. Squashing them made a terrible mess and I finally became adept at scooping them up with a dustpan and tossing them out the door, then closing the door in one smooth motion else they would come right back in. I had to go under my faculty housing to turn on the gas valve, and all went pretty well till I got in far enough that I needed to turn on the flashlight. Conservatively speaking, I'd guess their numbers at >20,000. The walls literally breathed with them, and I didn't stick around longer then necessary to scoot a few hundred aside with my hand so I could reach the valve (they smell bad, and I could hear the clicking of their shells as they rubbed together in the confined space and they enjoyed climbing my arm as quickly as I came into contact).

Yikes.

I still don't know why they come inside.

Maybe 'cos it is warm and that's where the caulk and drywall are?

Best,

Dan. (...who thinks such things could drive one buggy)

[No]

Now I'm starting to wonder if they're just little black beetles. They eat leaves, I know that much. And they like hiding under stuff. I had some beetles that looked similar in shape at one point, but they were shiny and golden. I wonder if they just changed color as they aged.



Maybe onions would repel them?