What Do Weevils Eat?

Most weevils feed on plant material, but the exact diet of these beetles depends on the species. The ones people encounter most often in homes—the grain, rice, and maize weevils—live on stored foods such as whole grains, rice, pasta, nuts, seeds, dried beans, corn, and even birdseed. They typically infest items that are dry, starchy, and stored for long periods. Outdoors, many weevils specialize in particular plants. Some target roots, others attack leaves, buds, or fruits, and a number of species focus on trees or ornamental plants. Regardless of where they live, they rely on plant-based food sources, and their larvae usually develop inside the material they consume.

Do Weevils Eat Plants?

Yes—many weevils eat plants. In fact, most species live outdoors and specialize in feeding on particular plant parts. Some chew on leaves and buds, others bore into stems, and many root-feeding species attack the underground portions of grasses, ornamentals, and crops. A large group focuses on seeds and nuts, laying eggs inside them so the larvae can develop while feeding. Because of this specialization, different weevil species can damage gardens, ornamentals, turf, and agricultural plants in very distinct ways. Indoors, the weevils people encounter are usually grain-feeding species, but outdoors the vast majority are true plant feeders.

What Plants Do Weevils Eat?

Weevils feed on a wide range of plants, but each group tends to specialize in certain types, which makes some plants far more susceptible than others. Outdoors, the species people encounter most often are leaf-feeding, root-feeding, and bud-feeding weevils. Leaf eaters—such as black vine weevils and strawberry root weevils—commonly attack ornamentals like rhododendron, azalea, camellia, euonymus, hemlock, yew, and various broadleaf evergreens. Their larvae, however, do the most serious damage by feeding on roots of turfgrass, perennials, berries, and many landscape shrubs. Root-feeding species are particularly drawn to strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, citrus, grapes, and a range of garden vegetables. Bud and stem specialists tend to focus on fruit trees, nuts, and developing seed pods, with pecans, chestnuts, acorns, and hazelnuts being prime examples. Overall, the plants most likely to be attacked are those offering tender new growth, developing seeds, or accessible roots—conditions that give weevils both abundant food and suitable places for egg-laying.

Do Weevils Eat Grains?

Weevils are highly adaptable grain feeders, and the species commonly found in homes or storage facilities will attack a wide range of whole, unprocessed grains. The most frequent offenders—rice weevils, grain weevils, and maize weevils—readily consume rice (white, brown, jasmine, basmati), wheat berries, whole barley, oats, rye, corn kernels, quinoa, buckwheat, and millet. They also thrive in cracked or damaged grains because those openings make it easier for females to lay eggs inside. While they prefer intact kernels, they will spread into products made from those grains as infestations grow, including pasta, couscous, flour, and cereals containing whole-grain pieces. Their ability to survive within stored grain for long periods is one reason they spread so easily through pantries and bulk storage.

Do Weevils Eat Nuts?

Several weevil species target nuts, and each has its own preferences. The ones most frequently encountered around homes, orchards, and storage areas tend to focus on:

Acorns – Acorn weevils are highly specialized. Females drill into developing acorns to lay eggs, and larvae consume the nut from the inside. This is one of the most common nut–weevil relationships in nature.
Pecans – The pecan weevil is a major pest in pecan-growing regions. Adults puncture the shell of developing nuts, and larvae feed on the kernels, often destroying the entire crop of affected nuts.
Chestnuts – Chestnut weevils attack both American and European chestnut varieties. They lay eggs in the burrs, and the larvae feed on the developing nut, causing internal damage and premature drop.
Hazelnuts/Filberts – Several weevil species can infest hazelnuts, especially in areas where wild hazel shrubs grow. Damage is similar: larvae eat the nut from within.
Walnuts – While less common than in pecans or chestnuts, certain weevil and nut-boring beetles will target walnuts, especially if the shells are thin or cracked.

In every case, the pattern is similar: adults lay eggs in developing nuts, larvae feed inside, and the nut drops early or becomes unusable. This internal feeding behavior makes infestations easy to overlook until the nut is opened or found prematurely on the ground.

Do Weevils Eat Beans?

Weevils (specifically bean weevils/seed beetles) will feed on almost any dried legume, but they are most likely to attack beans with thinner seed coats and those commonly stored in bulk or long-term home storage. The beans most frequently infested include:

Cowpeas/black-eyed peas – One of their top targets; many species evolved specifically around these.
Pinto beans – Very commonly infested in households and bulk food bins.
Kidney beans – Another frequent host, especially in long-stored bags.
Black beans – A common choice because they store well and often sit long enough for larvae to develop.
Navy beans – Small size and thin skins make them easy for larvae to penetrate.
Chickpeas/garbanzo beans – Thick shells slow them down, but they’re still a regular host.
Lentils and split peas – Readily attacked despite their smaller size.
Soybeans – Targeted in both storage and agricultural settings.

If it’s a dry, edible legume, weevils can exploit it. Infestations usually start from one contaminated batch and spread because the larvae develop completely inside the bean, making early detection difficult.

Do Weevils Eat Birdseed?

It’s very common for weevils to infest and feed on birdseed. In fact, birdseed is one of the most frequent sources of pantry weevil introductions because it often contains whole grains and seeds that are ideal for egg-laying and larval development. Here’s why birdseed is such a high-risk product:

It often contains whole, unprocessed grains: Sunflower seeds, millet, cracked corn, safflower, and other grains provide excellent food and shelter for grain and seed-feeding weevil species.
It’s stored for long periods: Birdseed frequently sits in warehouses, garages, and sheds—places where temperatures fluctuate and insects can get in. Long storage time increases the chance of an infestation developing unnoticed.
Packaging can be easily penetrated: Many birdseed bags aren’t airtight. Weevils can enter small gaps or chew through thin packaging.
One infested bag can spread quickly: Once brought indoors, even a mild infestation can move into nearby pantry products like rice, pasta, beans, flour, or pet food.

Birdseed is one of the top household sources of weevil problems. Storing it in sealed, rigid containers and using it promptly reduces the chances of weevils spreading.

Do Weevils Eat Pasta?

Weevils can eat processed grains such as pasta, couscous, crackers, and cereals, but it’s far less common than their infestation of whole grains or seeds. Processed products don’t offer the same dense, intact kernel structure that many weevil species prefer for egg-laying, so they typically move into these foods only after establishing themselves elsewhere—usually in whole grains, birdseed, dried beans, or seeds. Once an infestation is active, adults will explore nearby food sources, and if they find starchy, dry items like pasta or noodles, they’ll feed on them and may lay eggs in small cracks or crevices. This makes processed grain involvement more of a secondary spread than a primary target. In everyday household cases, weevils are found in pasta often because a bag was stored near a heavily infested product, not because pasta was their first choice.

Do Weevils Eat Animals?

No—weevils do not eat animals.

Weevils are strictly plant-feeding insects. Their mouthparts and digestive systems are adapted for chewing and digesting plant material, not meat or animal tissue. All life stages rely on plants in some form:

Adults feed on leaves, buds, stems, seeds, nuts, or stored grains.
Larvae develop inside plant material—typically seeds, nuts, roots, or grains—feeding on the internal tissues.

Weevils don’t bite people, don’t consume animal products like meat or fat, and have no predatory or scavenging behavior. Even in homes, they ignore pet food unless it contains whole grains or seeds.

Do Weevils Eat Insects?

No—weevils do not eat insects or any other arthropods.

They are entirely herbivorous, and every stage of their life cycle is built around feeding on plants. Their mouthparts are designed for chewing plant tissues such as seeds, nuts, roots, leaves, and stems. They lack the anatomy, behavior, and digestive capability needed to prey on or scavenge animal material.

Key points:

They are not predators. No weevil species hunts insects or mites.
They do not scavenge. They won’t feed on dead insects, carcasses, or animal-derived material.
Larvae are fully plant-dependent. Most develop inside a seed, nut, grain, or plant root—an environment where animal matter isn’t available.

If a weevil is seen near other insects, it’s coincidence rather than any kind of feeding relationship.