Are there worms in acorns

The young acorn weevil larvae hatch inside the acorn after one or two weeks. The larvae develop inside the acorn, feeding on the nutmeat for about 3 weeks. The more larvae inside an acorn, the slower they develop because they must share the available food. The empty acorn can be used by other insects for food and shelter.

A different insect, the acorn moth, may lay an egg near the exit hole left by the acorn weevil larva. After the egg hatches, the acorn moth catepillar climbs through the hole into the acorn, where it spends the winter. The following spring it leaves the acorn before turning into an acorn moth. I would like to see them actually do this since the hole does not look large enough for the larvae to fit through.

If the acorn were still outdoors, these larvae would tunnel into the soil to complete development. They remain in the soil for one to two years before emerging as a new adult weevil to repeat the process. However, if the acorns have been carried indoors by inquisitive toddlers, the emerging nut weevil larvae are forced to wander across the floor, often "burrowing" into carpeting or under furniture in an attempt to finish the normal process.

These misplaced grubs are harmless to the house, its occupants and contents. They cannot damage the furniture, carpets, people or pets. Wandering weevil larvae need only be swept or picked up and discarded. Part of the reason you find so many "wormy" or "holey" nuts under the trees and so many infested nuts and acorns end up in the house is because the squirrels leave them behind.

It appears the squirrels are able to select the good acorns and hickory nuts during their fall frenzy of nut gathering and burial. This leaves only "wormy" nuts for you. The nut-eaters even pick up a tiny bit of protein when they eat an acorn that holds grubs.

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