Fauna
Insect · GBIF taxon 9915023

Rice Weevil

Sitophilus oryzae

Rice weevils are destructive post-harvest pests equipped with a slender rostrum used to bore deep cavities into whole grain kernels. Females deposit a single egg per cavity, sealing the hole with a gelatinous plug so the larva can complete its entire development hidden inside the seed. Unlike their flightless relative the granary weevil, adult rice weevils possess fully functional wings and actively fly into crop fields to infest grains before harvest.

Agricultural PestGrain FeederCosmopolitan
Rice Weevil reference1 / 7
Licensed reference(c) LiCheng Shih, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & prey
  • Rice grains
  • Wheat kernels
  • Corn seeds
Predators
  • Pteromalid wasps
  • Predatory grain mites
  • House spiders
ThreatsSanitation, temperature extremes, fumigation, and parasitoid wasps
HabitatsGrain storage facilities, pantries, mills, and agricultural fields
Life span3–6 months
Classification
  1. OrderColeoptera
  2. FamilyDryophthoridae
  3. GenusSitophilus
  4. SpeciesSitophilus oryzae
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskLow
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. Very high
Why interaction risk is low
Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
  • Pantry Inspection: Check transparent containers and grain bags for tiny circular exit holes and powdery residue.
  • Cold Treatment: Freeze newly acquired dried grains for a few days to halt any hidden larval development.
Related species
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