Videos you might be interested in
Videos you might be interested in
Videos you might be interested in
Suggested for you
How to Get Rid of Weevils in Your House?
Even if you clean your kitchen meticulously, you may open your cupboards one day to discover them teeming with tiny insects. Unlike insects, weevils enter through doors, windows, and fissures. Adults gnaw through grains and lay eggs, making it nearly impossible to determine whether you've purchased a sack of larvae.
What Are Weevils?
Weevils are small worm-like insects (derived from grain/rice weevil larvae) and web-like silken threads (made by the meal or weevil moth) that regularly emerge in the food items in your cupboards.
Grain weevils prey on hard cereals such as macaroni and spaghetti, whereas rice weevils prey on grain and seeds. Larvae of the Indian meal moth can be found in nuts, seeds, grains, dried fruits, biscuits, chocolate, and dry dog food. There are about 60,000 kinds of weevils, ranging in size from 3mm to 10mm.
How to Identify Weevil Infestation?
You can identify weevil infestation when a cereal grain product is poured out for cooking. If you're lucky, you might spot an adult beetle in action. When you open a container of grain-based products, you will often find it teeming with small adult beetles. However, in some cases, the only sign is the presence of a dry, dusty residue from the hulls of seeds that have housed eggs, larvae, and pupae. When poured into water, the powdery residue frequently rises to the top. A grain product container that appears unusually dry and dusty may have been infested with weevils, and many of the entire seeds may still be actively harboring concealed larvae.
Where Do Weevils Come From in Your House?
This is unfortunate for those who value an insect-free pantry, as these little buggers enjoy infiltrating the space, though not in the way you might expect.
Infestation might begin in the garage or basement, among other places.
Typically, these pests make their way indoors via packaged foods or bulk products. Thus, the likelihood of a weevil flying into the pantry is slim. It is considerably more customary to bring them home from the store with you.
Weevils deposit eggs inside grain kernels or other starch compounds that are large enough to contain the larva. They can stay hidden in the kitchen for an extended period because their larva develops inside grain kernels.
When the larva hatches from the egg, it crawls across the grain till it finds a suitable aperture, at which point it burrows into the grain's center. Once within the grain, the larva feeds, develops, and pupates inside. The adult will rise from the pupa stage, leave the grain, and search for an adult of the opposite sex to continue the process.
5 Simple Steps to Get Rid of Weevils
Weevils (or pantry moths) breed more readily in unclean environments. As soon as you notice an infestation, thoroughly clean your pantry and keep it clean. Additionally, avoid leaving food out in the open. Here are five easy measures to remove weevils and keep the rice bugs away. By following these steps, you can get rid of rice weevils in the house.
1. Identify the Infestation
Check to see if there is a problem with an infestation. Moth or weevil activity in the pantry is indicated by the presence of sticky secretions that clump grains together, tiny holes in storage containers, and webbing around the cabinetry perimeter. Additionally, if you discover small bugs in your stored food or small moths fluttering around the kitchen, you will most likely need to stop the infestation and eliminate it.
2. Clean the Area
Once you have determined that there is an infestation, thoroughly clean the infected area. Starting with vacuuming the affected area, proceed to soap and water cleaning of the entire area to remove any remaining debris. Take care not to overlook any corners or difficult-to-reach regions, or you may find yourself amid another infestation in no time.
3. Dispose of the Food
Any stored food that shows evidence of weevil infestation should be carefully removed and disposed of immediately. Do not attempt to remove food portions that you believe to be clean.
4. Store Food in Clean Containers
Once you have cleaned up the infected area and disposed of the infested food, make sure to keep the remaining food in firmly sealed metal, glass, or hard plastic containers to prevent the spread of the infestation. Remember to fully clean the containers by washing them with soap and hot water and then completely drying them to ensure that no moisture remains in the containers.
5. Remove the Source
Take away the source of the infestation, i.e., remove the food that has been incorrectly stored. Also, make sure you eliminate any rat nests or other dirty areas that could serve as breeding grounds for the weevils.
6. Dried Bay Leaves
To get rid of weevils naturally you can fill each tightly sealed container in your pantry with a bay leaf or two to repel weevils.
How to Prevent Weevils From Invading Your Pantry?
After you've killed weevils in your house, you'll want to take preventive measures to keep the problem from recurring and to get rid of weevils in the pantry. A common saying states that "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure" - this is certainly true in the case of weevils. Here are a few suggestions about what you can do:
Cracks in your home should be sealed: It is necessary to inspect your windows, doors, and pantry for any cracks that may have been created by exterior weevils and seal them up if this is the case.
Purchase items from the bulk bin section: cereals, seeds, flour, grains, and pasta are all goods that can be purchased in large quantities. When purchasing in bulk, you have the opportunity to examine the food more closely before making a purchase.
Freeze all new food packages for four to seven days after they are opened: When you bring new food into your home, you should strive to kill weevils and weevil eggs and larvae that have hatched. Once totally frozen, defrost and transfer to a container with a tight-fitting lid.
Remove any little food crumbs from the floor regularly: Regularly vacuum or sweep your pantry shelves and floor to keep pests from congregating in your home.
Seal all cracks and openings to keep pests out of your home: Weevils are tiny in size, making them capable of using minute cracks and openings as entry points and hiding spots.
Food should be stored in a dry and cool environment: Storage areas that are both dry and cool are the most ideal for storing food.
The method of removing weevils from your pantry is time-consuming. The only way to eliminate the possibility of these pests returning is to freeze all dried items immediately after purchase and store them in airtight containers after freezing. To get rid of weevils that have taken up residence in your kitchen, follow the instructions outlined in the previous section.
Also Read:
Simple Tips to Remove Lizards From Your Home
Home Remedies to Get Rid of Flies
Effective Remedies to Get Rid of Mosquitoes at Home
Read more
Suggested for you
Suggested for you
Rashmi has added a new answer
Guardian of 0 children
8 hours ago
Q. Can I check baby heartbeat in 9th week of pregancy?
Rashmi
Mom of a 9 yr 8 m old girl
7 hours ago
A. See that can only be monitored with a proper ultrasound or a machine which can check the heartbeat of the child otherwise there is no third way to figure it out further if you need to know more you can get a sonography done with your gynaecologist to have better clarity
Suggested for you
5 Ways Mosquito-Borne Diseases Could Harm your Child's Overall Development
Mosquitoes might seem harmless pesky pets, but their bites go beyond causing some itching and swelling. They hold the power to wreak havoc on your child's overall development!
Being bitten by mosquitoes is a common childhood concern. As parents, most of us have experienced our child’s distress and tears when a stray mosquito bit them while they were playing in the park. Usually, we perceive mosquito bites as harmless and forget about them after the itching and swelling have come down. However, there are certain mosquito bites that can be very serious and trigger health complications in little ones. In severe cases, these complications even affect the child’s overall development, including physical, cognitive and emotional growth.
Mosquito-Borne Diseases That Affect Child Development
The following mosquito borne diseases are unfortunately common in India and can have severe effects in patients, especially in children. Please take note of their possible effects on child development and the preventive measures that doctors recommend for parents.
1. Malaria
Can Affect The Child’s Brain Development
Malaria is among the most common diseases caused by mosquitoes, transmitted by the Anopheles mosquito. While in several cases, children recover completely without any lasting side effects, this may not always hold true. If your child comes down with severe malaria, it could have long-term effects on his cognitive ability, behaviour and performance in school. According to a research paper published in BioMed Central, cognitive impairment in language, memory, attention, etc., is the hidden burden of malarial infection.
What Parents Need to Do: If your child has malaria, watch out for symptoms such as seizure, coma, and low blood sugar. These symptoms can indicate a high risk of acute infection and must immediately get evaluated by the doctor.
Lowers The Child’s Overall Immunity
The malarial parasite can also interfere with your child’s immune system and reduce its ability to trigger an immune response. A paper published in Science Daily notes that malaria patients often fail to respond to many vaccines and are susceptible to many infections. During the developing years, children are exposed to several new stimuli, germs, etc., especially when they are spending time outdoors. In the absence of a strong immune system, their chances of falling ill are much higher.
What Parents Need to Do: Maintain a high level of hygiene at home. Use a liquid vaporizer at home to keep mosquitoes away.
You also need to take preventive steps to protect your children from being bitten by mosquitoes when they venture outdoors. The Anopheles mosquito is the most active at dusk or dawn, which means kids have high risk of being bitten during their evening playground time. An effective protection is to use Good knight Fabric Roll-On which uses natural eucalyptus oil and citronella to keep mosquitoes away for up to 8 hours. You only have to dab 4 dots onto the child’s clothes. If you make this a habit whenever your child ventures outdoors to play or goes off to school, you can rest assured that your child will remain protected from mosquitoes even outside the house.
Apart from this, also feed your child immunity-boosting foods such as citrus fruits, yoghurt, almonds, etc. If your child falls ill frequently, discuss with your doctor to rule out the possibility of a suppressed immune response.
2. Dengue
May Trigger Long-Term Joint & Muscle Pain
If your child gets infected by dengue, the impact on his physical development can persist even after the infection has gone. Dengue has been known to cause severe pain in the muscles and joints – conditions called polyarthralgia and myalgia. In case the child already suffers from any vitamin or mineral deficiencies, this pain can be severe for their tender, still developing joints.
What Parents Need to Do: If your child complains of joint pain even after the infection has subsided, discuss this with the doctor. He will be able to evaluate the pain and prescribe medication and dietary changes.
Protect the child from any subsequent diseases caused by mosquito bites by not allowing any stagnant water in and around the house. If your little one is under 2 years old, apply Goodknight Fabric Roll-On on their prams, cots, strollers, etc. It is doctor-tested to be effective and safe.
3. Chikungunya
Can Produce Signs of Depression
It seems odd that a mosquito-borne disease can also adversely affect a child’s emotional development. However, it is true that one of the long-term effects of chikungunya is depression. As per doctors, the depression comes in waves, wherein the patient may feel fine for a certain time period but subsequently have an emotional breakdown. These effects can be felt for even a year after the infection! This makes chikungunya one of the most worrisome in this list of diseases caused by mosquitoes.
What Parents Need to Do: If your child has had a chikungunya infection in the past and complains of mood swings, have a discussion with the doctor. It may be accompanied with joint pain as well.
4. Zika
In Rare Cases, Can Trigger Paralysis
This disease triggered worldwide panic after its feared connection to microcephaly, wherein the disease transmitted to newborn babies through their mothers and led to brain damage. In older children, the disease doesn’t usually have any lasting side effects. But the one condition all parents must know about is the Guillan-Barre syndrome. This complication of Zika can damage brain stem cells and lead to paralysis. As per reports, the Zika virus can make a person up to five times more likely to develop this syndrome.
What Parents Need to Do: The chances of children developing this condition are low. However, it is best to be cautious and prevent the onset of Zika by protecting your children from mosquito bites and being on the lookout for the common symptoms of Zika – rash, joint pain and fever. Japanese encephalitis
Poses Risk of Serious Brain Damage
The mosquito that transmits this disease usually lingers in marshy areas, rice fields, etc. While the illness starts off with relatively mild flu-like symptoms such as mosquito borne fever, headache, etc., it can eventually infect the brain and lead to serious brain damage. Not only can this hamper the child’s development but it can also prove to be fatal.
What Parents Need to Do: If you live in a high-risk area for this disease, discuss this with your doctor. One of the worst cases of this illness was seen in 2005 in Eastern UP. You can avail of a vaccine for this illness under India’s free immunization program to keep your child protected.
5. Elephantiasis
Can Cause Lymphatic Damage and Permanent Disfigurement
This disease is caused by a worm that gets transmitted by mosquitoes. The worm is a parasite that then resides in the lymphatic system, affecting the body fluids and leading to swelling in the face, limbs, etc. The resulting disfigurement can even be permanent.
What Parents Need to Do: Apart from controlling the breeding of mosquitoes, parents should also follow the government’s prevention drives for elephantiasis. The "Hathipaon Mukt Bharat" (Filaria Free India) is the government’s public health campaign against this deadly disease, especially in the high-risk areas of Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, Bihar and West Bengal. Discuss this with your doctor.
As we just saw, mosquito-borne illnesses can prove to be very damaging to your child’s health, safety and development. Make sure you keep the preventive measures in mind to avoid the onset of infection in the first place. Read more
Suggested for you
What to Gift Your Mom: Find Out The Zodiac Way!
Have you run out of ideas to select a unique gift for your mom? This Mother's Day, express all your love and affection through a zodiac gift that your mom will cherish forever. Just follow her sun sign and plan the best gift for her!
Make your mom feel special and surprise her with the perfect zodiac gift, this Mother's Day. Show your appreciation for the 'best mom in the world' by giving her something that she will adore and appreciate.
Zodiac Gift Ideas for Your Mom
Below are the 12 sun signs and the gifts they'll love:
1. Aries
Aries moms love standing out from the crowd. Gadgets fascinate them. Anything that is expensive, exciting, colourful, and fun will make an excellent gift. A visit to an amusement park, coupons for power shopping, ticket to a sports event, and recipe books are a few other options.
2. Taurus
These moms love rich, sumptuous food and appreciate practical gifts. They are music lovers too. A bouquet of tropical flowers, a hamper of sweets, vintage hats, soundtracks of some old rock and roll music, and concert tickets to her favourite band are some fabulous gift options.
3. Gemini
Geminis love gadgets and like to communicate. You could arrange a cocktail party for her with her friends on Mother's Day, buy her the latest best-selling book or a journal to write in. A new phone, a digital camera, or a tablet are some excellent gifts for your witty, chatty, and playful mom.
4. Cancer
Cancer moms are very sentimental and affectionate. They appreciate not only your gifts, but also the way you present them. A tear-jerking speech followed by a gift-wrapped present will certainly make her day. A collage of family photos, a scrapbook, and silver jewellery are a few other options that can please her.
5. Leo
Leo women like to be the centre of attention. Diamond jewellery, or jewellery having ruby, topaz, or any other fiery gemstone is always a hit with them. A voucher for a beauty salon, some sunflowers, a good movie show, and a hand-made card are some cool gift ideas for your Leo mom.
6. Virgo
They are particular about cleanliness and are very practical too. A home appliance, gardening tools, or anything related to home decor is always a good choice for Virgo moms.
7. Libra
A Libra mom will definitely love flowers. She loves to be pampered and treated like royalty. Floral-based perfumes, bath products, amazing paintings, concert tickets of her favourite singer are some wonderful zodiac gift ideas for these women.
8. Scorpio
They love receiving gifts and enjoy the mystery of what's inside. Perfumes, jewellery, and make-up products can make their day.
9. Sagittarius
A Sagittarius mom loves travelling and other adventure-related activities. Nothing beats a weekend getaway experience as a gift on Mother's Day. A date to an exotic restaurant, books of all types, or a soundtrack of her favourite musician will serve as excellent gifts too.
10. Capricorn
These ladies appreciate simplicity and love to be practical. A dinner with her family, a fancy saree, knitting supplies, or a gardening set can please them for sure.
11. Aquarius
Aquarians love to socialise. History and culture fascinate them. Historical books, antique jewellery and a social dinner make brilliant options to make her happy on this special occasion.
12. Pisces
These moms love fantasy, dream, and creativity. They also love to indulge in spiritual literature and photography. A camera, an aroma diffuser, a family trip to the museum, or some essential oils will serve as perfect gifts.
Now that you have a list of zodiac gift ideas according to your mom's sun sign, what are you waiting for? Get her the perfect gift this Mother's Day and let her know how much she has always meant to you. Read more
Suggested for you
Preparing Your Dog For Your Baby’s Arrival
Introducing dogs to a baby, or training dogs for a new baby in the house, can be a tricky thing. Dog owners who are expecting to become parents soon must also consider the life transition their dog will go through once a new baby becomes a member of the house. Preparing your dog for the baby’s arrival and introducing your baby to your dog should therefore be a well thought out and planned activity.
Dogs have always cherished the position of being a man’s best friend. While dog owners cherish the presence of their dog in every aspect of their life, the arrival of a new born baby becomes a tricky aspect to handle for both the dog and the owner. New parents become overly insecure about their baby and tend to forget or ignore the needs of their pet. As a result, the dog often feels rejected, confused and resentful towards the new baby.
Training Dogs For Baby's Arrival
Start preparing your dog for a change in feeding schedule as once your baby will arrive, you will not be able to adhere to proper meal timings for him. Train your dog to be flexible so that once your baby arrives, your dog doesn’t become fussy about his food.
Hire a dog walker or develop a walking schedule for your dog which would give you some breathing space once the baby arrives. You will be operating on very little sleep for quite some time after the baby is born. Your frustration should not be vented on your dog. So plan ahead and save yourself some trouble.
Start training your dog to anticipate new smells and sounds around the house. Introduce him to smells of baby lotion, nappies and formula as well as sounds of nursery rhymes. A baby’s arrival can be a confusing phase for your dog. Make the transition smoother for him by training him in advance.
Train your dog to become less vocal and more polite. A jumping dog when you have the baby in your arms can be annoying as well as dangerous. So train him now to remain on all fours. Also train him to bark less and be less vigilant. This will eventually help your create a more calm environment in the house which is suitable for your baby’s nap time.
Your dog will have to learn to be more obedient once your baby is around. So start conditioning him to respond to instructions like sit, stay, down and go away. This will save you a lot of time and energy and keep both your baby and your dog happy and safe.
Introducing Dogs To Baby
Once your baby has arrived, plan the first interaction between your dog and your baby very carefully.
Get a helper or your spouse to leash your dog when you bring your baby in his vicinity for the first time.
It is normal to be nervous about this event, but instead of showing your unease, motivate your dog in a calm voice and keep giving him treats when he first gets introduced to the baby. This will help him relate to the baby in a positive manner.
Don’t shout at your dog if he tries to show dangerous levels of excitement around the baby.
Let your dog practice some hand target before you let him sniff your baby for a short while.
Once the first introduction is over, distract your dog with a chew-toy or some treats and simply hang-out with him while you hold the baby calmly. This will help your dog understand the normalcy of the situation and accept the baby faster.
It may take some time for both you and your dog to adjust to this major family change. But if you make sure to shower some love on your dog every once in a while and keep things as normal as possible, your baby and your dog will soon learn to be the best of pals. Read more
Dr Ghouse has added a new answer
Father of a 6 yr 4 m old child
11 hours ago
Q. my son is now 7 yrs and and last 3 three days ,he is complaining that he had bad and negative thoughts and this is too hilarious that.
we r too worried ,pls suggest 🙏
Dr Ghouse
Paediatrician
10 hours ago
A. it is quite natural small babies will be having different moods different types of behaviour please continue to interact the baby engage activities like drawing painting even clay sculpture o k
Rashmi has added a new answer
Guardian of 0 children
8 hours ago
Q. Hi this is pooja I am 6 weeks 3 days pregnant n m 31 yrs old my doctor prescribed me this interjection called choriotec 5000 once a week for a month .. I have already took two times but now my lil scared so can u pls tell me anyone here is it safe to take more ??? It’s not harmful nah ??? Pls ans dr
Read moreRashmi
Mom of a 9 yr 8 m old girl
8 hours ago
A. Your doctor must have given it to you for a particular reason so I’m just going to advise you to follow what she says yet if you have a doubt or you’re scared about anything then why don’t you just prospect with your Dr as to what what purpose are you taking this and what is meant to be done in case you do not take the injection or you do not want to take
Dr Ghouse has added a new answer
5 hours ago
Q. Mam last perioda mujhe 10 april ko aye the aur aj mene pregnancy test kiya hai to 1 line light ayi h to mujhe kya krna chahiye
Dr Ghouse
Paediatrician
5 hours ago
A. beta HCG test kare ok. if there is no relief it is better you see your doctor for proper examination particularly physical examination if there is need for doing investigations to find out the problem and treatment ok
Dr Ghouse has added a new answer
Expecting Mom due in 7 months
4 hours ago
Q. can I eat egg daily?
now I am in 1st trimester
Dr Ghouse
Paediatrician
4 hours ago
A. yes you can eat egg daily even in first trimester. if there is no relief it is better you see your doctor for proper examination particularly physical examination if there is need for doing investigations to find out the problem and treatment ok
Dr Vandan H Kumar has added a new answer
Guardian of 0 children
2 hours ago
Q. #asktheexperts
Which are the safe sites to hire japas in New Delhi (EDD July)
Dr Vandan H Kumar
Paediatrician
2 hours ago
A. you can always ask questions related to the health of child and mother in this section and it can bez either related to diet or food or vaccination or any type of medicine goingz on and given by your doctor.
Check out this new Memory
Madhavi Mavi
Mom of a 11 m old girl
New Memory
#megaphoto
0 Likes
0 Comment
Check out this new Memory
KS Goyal
Mom of a 6 m old girl
New Memory
#megaphoto
0 Likes
0 Comment
Check out this new Memory
Chandni
Mom of a 2 yr 8 m old girl
New Memory
#megaphoto
0 Likes
0 Comment
Check out this new Memory
Meghana M S
Mom of a 4 yr 4 m old boy
New Memory
#megaphoto
0 Likes
0 Comment
Check out this new Memory
Lekshmi Kurup
Mom of a 3 yr 11 m old girl
1 min ago
#bestphoto
0 Likes
0 Comment
Tell us more about yourself get More Personalised
- Infant0 to 6 Months
- Baby6 Months to 2 Yrs
- Toddler2 to 4 yrs
- Kids4-6 yrs
- Big Kids6+ yrs
- Expecting
- Trying to Conceive