Kingdom Animalia Phylum Arthropoda Rank Family | Superfamily Curculionoidea Higher classification Weevil Order Beetle | |
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Similar Beetle, Insect, Apionidae, Anthribidae, Weevil | ||
The tooth-nosed snout weevils, Rhynchitidae, are small beetles (1.5 to 6.5 mm) that are usually found vegetation. They usually use buds, fruits, or seeds for oviposition. The tooth-nosed snout weevils receive this name due to the teeth on the edges of their mandibles.
Traditionally considered a subfamily of Attelabidae within the Curculionoidea (weevils and relatives), the tooth-nosed snout weevils are regarded as a separate family Rhynchitidae by some authorities.
A common member of this group is the rose curculio, Merhynchites bicolor, which feeds on roses.
A number of species from Rhynchitidae are recorded from Britain.
The thief weevil, Pterocolus ovatus, is the only pterocoline (subfamily Pterocolinae) known from North America. It is an obligate egg predator and nidus kleptoparasite (nest thief) of some beetles in the family Attelabidae.
Selected genera
