Kitchen Garden Forum

I have just opened a tin of stored runner bean seeds and found the tin full of little black beetles. They have been noshing my beans - the little BUG..gers ! What are they ? I had a sachet of silica gel in the tin and dried the beans so where did I go wrong ? They were special "Cherokee trail of tears" beans Tony Shore on this forum kindly sent me. I will still try growing them.

Hi Happymouse,
Sounds like Weevils to me! Have they got small snouts and 6 legs? If so it is as I suspect and the eggs would have been in the crop when you picked it.
I also suspect that you have been storing them at too warm a temperature if they are for to be used as seed. If they are stored not above 5C the Weevils are not likely to grow to adulthood but would kind of hibernate until the temperature increases. I know this is going to distress you but the seed are now all suspect and the entire lot should be incinerated.

Thanks for your advice Johnboy. I will dispose of them.

I got caught by these little devils the first year I saved broad bean seeds,the second year I put the plastic box with the WELL DRIED seeds in into the freezer for 2 days before I stored them...result...no bugs!
Carole.