True Weevils
Curculionidae
Summary 7
Curculionidae is the family of the "true" weevils (or "snout beetles"). In 1998 it was recognized as the largest animal family, with over 40 000 species described worldwide at that time. However, it is surpassed by the family Ichneumonidae (Hymenoptera) with over 60 000 species. Even among the beetles (Coleoptera), the family Staphylinidae, with 58 000 species, surpasses it.
General description 8
Curculionidae (Weevils, Snout Beetles)
This is a very large family of beetles. The adults range in size from small to large; they have stout bodies and a hard carapace. Weevils have a long narrow snout projecting from the head, with a pair of short, jointed antennae toward the middle of this snout. This provides them with a distinctive appearance. Weevils are generally dull tannish brown or grey, but sometimes have carapace that is red, green, or shiny black. Both adults and larvae feed on various parts of many kinds of plants, and can be very destructive. However, adults sometimes visit flowers to feed on pollen or nectar.
Sources and Credits
- (c) Mick Talbot, some rights reserved (CC BY), http://www.flickr.com/photos/25258702@N04/2891245226
- (c) Václav Hanzlík, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), https://www.biolib.cz/IMG/GAL/39863.jpg
- (c) Udo Schmidt, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2705/4058073683_616d6dd065.jpg
- (c) Miroslav Deml, some rights reserved (CC BY), https://www.biolib.cz/IMG/GAL/60990.jpg
- (c) anonymous, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), http://www.biopix.com/photos/Pelenomus-quadricorniger-00006.JPG
- (c) anonymous, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), http://www.biopix.com/photos/Lepyrus-capucinus-00001.JPG
- (c) Wikipedia, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Curculionidae
- (c) John Hilty, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), http://eol.org/data_objects/31875155
