How to Tell if Pecans Are Wormy

English settlers in America sent the first shipment of pecans to their homeland in 1761. For centuries, Native Americans found these tasty, slightly sweet nuts handy when trading with other natives and with the English who sought them. Unfortunately outbreaks of pests like the pecan weevil (Curculio caryae) cause two kinds of damage to these nutty treats. Hungry adults feed on immature nuts making them fall prematurely. Secondly, the pregnant females burrow into the shells laying their wormy eggs. If you have harvested pecans recently, you'll need to inspect them for worms before eating them.

Things You'll Need

• Pecan
• Nutcracker

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Instructions

1. • 1

     Rotate the pecan in your hand looking at it from all sides. Look for holes or evidence of boring. If you see perfectly round holes in your pecan shells, your pecans are wormy.

   • 2

     Squeeze the nut in your hand. If they crack and crumble easily, your pecan is likely infected.

   • 3

     Crack open the pecan shells using a nutcracker then examine the contents. If the contents are bug and worm free with clean, cream colored nuts, your pecans are safe.