With the exception of the Scolytinae these species are known as weevils. Historically the family has undergone many nomenclature changes and shufflings and as research continues it seems as though the group is nowadays more fluid than ever. For a brief insight into the problematic nature of curculionid nomenclature one should read the introduction to Morris' 2002 handbook. This is frustrating for the non-specialist because it becomes ever more difficult to keep up with and to appreciate and understand the various groups. For the purpose of listing and describing local fauna such matters need not concern the naturalist, here all we need is the ability to find specimens and identify them. But matters of nomenclature etc will concern the amateur coleopterist because the amateur coleopterist is interested in beetles per se as well as in the local fauna. This website is concerned with all aspects of coleoptera because its creators are passionate about such things and for this reason we will attempt to describe and illustrate the subfamilies in more detail than is needed for a purely practical approach.
Becoming familiar with the weevils is a formidable task which demands lots of time, work and, to be frank, a passion for the group.
The keys in Joy's handbook while (obviously) lacking the various species and groups added since its creation, and while (blatantly) pushing its luck with many groups remains useful and on the whole simple to use, Furthermore, because of the number and density of the line drawings it may be useful when starting ot to simply compare a specimen with the drawings page after page until something sensible is found, going back to the keys afterwards can be very instructive. Weevils also tend to be well represented in general guides to beetles and there are several internet sites (other than this one) that feature enough species well enough to allow a broad familiarity with the group before on the RES handbooks by Morris which so far (2008) cover well over half our species. These handbooks are not particularly difficult to use but they are technical and thorough and so some broad familiarity with the group will be a great advantage.
From our pictures it is obvious that weevils are a very characteristic group which, with the exception of several species of the Heteromeran Salpingidae, will not be confused with any other. The Scolytinae are atypical in being cylindrical and having no rostrum and small species may be taken for Bostrychidae or Ciidae but they share two basic curculionid features; geniculate antennae and broadly bilobed third tarsal segments. Histeridae feature this type of antennae but possess very different tarsi. With a little practice and experience the curculionid antennae are immediately recognisable.
There are several other families of weevils found in Britain, all of which are distinct and readily separated from the Curculionidae as follows:Possession of geniculate antennae with a compact club will exclude Anthribidae, Attelabidae, Urodontidae, Apionidae and the eyeless raymondionymidae. With two basal abdominal sternites connate (fused), elytra striate excludes Nemonychidae. With short trochanters excludes Nanophyidae (2 very distinct species).
The two British basic forms of Curculionidae are summarised as follows:
Curculionidae (excluding Scolytinae) 1.5-5mm Head without neck. Antennae clubbed and geniculate, scape longer than next 2 segments, with well developed rostrum, sometimes broad and short (Entiminae). Elytra covering abdomen, usually broader than pronotum. Many species with scales and/or pubescence dorsally and/or laterally. Underside variously grooved or excavate to receive appendages. Tarsi pseudotetramerous, 3rd segment usually strongly bilobed.
Curculionidae (Scolytinae). 1.2-6mm Near cylindrical and heavily sclerotised species, mostly wood borers. Antennae with less than 8 segments, geniculate and with well develoed club. Elytra sometimes excavate behind.
Weevils feed on various parts of plants including leaves, flowers, seeds, wood and roots and most species are restricted to a narrow range of hosts while many are monophagus. Morris gives comprehensive lists of host plants and feeding sites for the species dealt with so far in the RES handbooks. Knowing which species of plant a weevil is associated with can thus be a powerful aid to identification. As we describe the local fauna we will cover such things as hosts and seasonal occurence so that interested parties will stand a good chance of observing them in the wild. Trying to provide a family overview with only our local material for reference is difficult and would mean leaving out several interesting groups, so, whether we have a species or not, we will describe all the groups of British weevils.
Archarius pyrrhoceras
female
Archarius pyrrhoceras
male
Archarius salicivorus
Curculio glandium
Female
Curculio glandium
Male
Curculio nucum
Female
Curculio nucum
Male
Curculio rubidus
Curculio venosus
Anthonomus pedicularius
Anthonomus pomorum
Anthonomus rubi
Cionus alauda
Cionus scrophulariae
Cionus tuberculosus
Dorytomus dejeani
Dorytomus ictor
Dorytomus longimanus
Female
Dorytomus longimanus
Male
Dorytomus rufatus
Dorytomus taeniatus
Dorytomus tortrix
Ellescus bipunctatus
Gymnetron melanarium
Gymnetron villosulum
Mecinus janthinus
Mecinus pascuorum
Mecinus pyraster
Miarus campanulae
Rhinusa linariae
Isochnus sequensi
Orchestes alni
Orchestes fagi
Orchestes pilosus
Orchestes quercus
Orchestes rusci
Rhampus pulicarius
Tachyerges salicis
Tychius junceus
Tychius meliloti
Tychius picirostris
Tychius schneideri
Limnobaris t-album
Ceutorhynchus erysimi
Ceutorhynchus obstrictus
Ceutorhynchus pallidactylus
Ceutorhynchus picitarsis
Ceutorhynchus typhae
Coeliodes rana
Coeliodes ruber
Coeliodes transversealbofasciatus
Coeliodinus nigritarsis
Datonychus melanostictus
Drupenatus nasturtii
Ethelcus verrucatus
Glocianus moelleri
Hadroplontus litura
Hadroplontus trimaculatus
Micrelus ericae
Microplontus campestris
Mogulones geographicus
Nedyus quadrimaculatus
Parethelcus pollinarius
Trichosirocalus troglodytes
Zacladus geranii
Rhinoncus pericarpius
Euophryum confine
Acalles misellus
Acalles ptinoides
Achopera alternata
Neliocarus nebulosus
Neliocarus sus
Strophosoma capitatum
Strophosoma melanogrammum
Philopedon plagiatum
Barynotus moerens
Otiorhynchus ovatus
Otiorhynchus rugosostriatus
Otiorhynchus sulcatus
Otiorhynchus singularis
Phyllobius argentatus
Phyllobius glaucus
Phyllobius glaucus
Phyllobius maculicornis
Phyllobius oblongus
Phyllobius pomaceus
Phyllobius pyri
Phyllobius roboretanus
Phyllobius virideaeris
Phyllobius viridicollis
Liophloeus tessulatus
Pachyrhinus lethierryi
Polydrusus cervinus
Polydrusus cervinus
Polydrusus formosus
Female
Polydrusus formosus
Male
Polydrusus marginatus
Polydrusus pterygomalis
Polydrusus tereticollis
Barypeithes araneiformis
Barypeithes pellucidus
Barypeithes pellucidus
Sciaphilus asperatus
Andrion regensteinense
Coelositona cambricus
Sitona hispidulus
Sitona humeralis
Sitona lepidus
Sitona lineatus
Sitona striatellus
Male
Sitona striatellus
Female
Sitonasulcifrons
Trachyphloeus alternans
Tropiphorus terricola
Hypera meles
Hypera nigrirostris
Hypera plantaginis
Hypera pollux
Hypera venustus
Hypera zoilus
Larinus carlinae
Rhinocyllus conicus
Magdalis armigera
Magdalis cerasi
Leiosoma deflexum
Anoplus plantaris
Hylobius abietis
Trachodes hispidus
Dryocoetes villosus
Scolytus intricatus
Trypodendron domesticum
Xyleborus monographus
Xylocleptes bispinus
Hylastes angustatus
Hylastes opacus
Hylesinus varius
Hylurgops palliatus
Phloeotribus rhododactylus
Tomicus piniperda