Some species are familiar as pests of stored grain, nut, or seed.

Among the Stiophilus are species which destroy stored wheat, rice, sorghum,[2][3][4] oats, barley, rye, buckwheat,[4] peas, cottonseed, processed cereal products such as pasta, cassava,[3] and fruits such as apples.

[5] The rice and maize weevils have a nearly cosmopolitan distribution, occurring throughout the warmer parts of the world.

[6] The wheat weevil can live on acorns, and may have used them as a host before agriculture made grain plentiful.

The rice weevil can live on beans, nuts, grains, and some types of fruit, such as grapes.