- Scientific name
- Sitophilus oryzae
- Also called
- weevil, grain weevil
- Size
- About 1/8 in
- Color
- Reddish brown to black, four faint orange or yellow spots
- Found in
- Rice, wheat, corn, popcorn, dried beans, whole grains
- Harmful?
- Spoils grain; not a health risk
- Active
- Year-round indoors; can fly
What to do
Rice weevils are the little snouted beetles found crawling in a bag of rice or a jar of popcorn. The female chews a hole in a single grain, lays an egg inside and seals it; the larva grows inside the kernel, so infested grain can look normal from the outside. They don’t bite. The one thing to do: throw out infested grain and freeze newly bought grain for several days.
This page covers how to identify a rice weevil, tell it from other pantry beetles and keep it out. It rests on University of Kentucky and UC IPM guidance. The full cleanout is in how to get rid of weevils.
How to Identify a Rice Weevil: The Long Snout
- About 1/8 inch, reddish brown to nearly black.
- A long snout in front of the head, like an elephant’s trunk.
- Four faint orange or yellowish spots on the wing covers.
- Grain with small round holes where adults chewed their way out.
Rice weevils on stored corn. Adults chew small round holes; larvae grow inside the kernels. Photo: CSIRO (CC BY 3.0), via Wikimedia Commons.
Rice Weevil vs. Look-Alikes: Snout or No Snout
| Beetle | How it differs | How to tell |
|---|---|---|
| Rice weevil | Snout, four faint spots | Can fly; in whole grains |
| Granary weevil | Similar snout | No spots; can’t fly |
| Red flour beetle | Flat, shiny | No snout; in flour |
| Drugstore beetle | Oval, tiny | No snout; head tucked under |
Where You’ll Find Them: Whole Grains
- Rice, wheat, barley and other whole grains
- Popcorn, dried corn and some dried beans
- Bulk grains and old bags at the back of the pantry
They mostly attack whole kernels, not flour, though adults wander into other foods. UC IPM groups them with the granary weevil and lesser grain borer as beetles that feed mainly on whole grains and seeds.
Are Rice Weevils Harmful? Not to People
They don’t bite or carry disease, and eating a few by accident isn’t dangerous. They ruin the grain and spread to other packages.
How to Confirm It’s Rice Weevils
- Look for the snout on a beetle in rice or popcorn.
- Check kernels for small, round exit holes.
- Check nearby packages of grain, popcorn and dried beans; adults wander from one to the next.
What to Do: Toss, Freeze, Seal
Throw out infested grain, check nearby packages and vacuum the shelf. Freezing newly bought grain for several days kills any hidden eggs and larvae. The steps are the same cleanout used for pantry moths: find every infested package, throw it out, vacuum the shelves and store dry food in containers with tight lids. UC IPM says plastic bags aren’t adequate, and keeping rarely used flour, spices and grains in the freezer prevents infestations. For other pests, browse all pest guides.
Often confused with
Sources
Last reviewed Oct 4, 2026.
