Rhynchitidae | ||||
7 genera, 18 species. 21.-3.5mm. Distinctive orthocerous weevils;
antennae straight (not geniculate) with the club composed of obvious and discrete segments, their front and hind
margin not closely associated (Apionidae). Rostrum long, at least as long as head from
pronotum to front of eye. Elytra shining, sometimes metallic and/or attractively coloured; blue, green or red. Usually
flattened and more or less parallel sided, quadrate or elongate. With or without a scutellar stria.
Entire upper surface pubescent except in Byctiscus (2 spp), never with scales. Legs medium to long, trochanters short
(Apionidae), inner edge of foretibiae not dentate or asperate (roughened) and claws free to base.
Mandibles usually dentate externally and with a deciduous pupal cutter. The most recent work for the identification of British species is Morris, although
Joy's work still remains useful, either should be used in conjunction with The Coleopterist checklist..
Although many are widely distributed only a few are common. Mostly associated with woody plants and monophagous so it is useful to record the host. Some are pests e.g. Rhynchites germanicus Herbst (soft fruits) and Neocoenorrhinus aequatus (Linnaeus) (apples), but larvae of most species develop within leaf buds, young shoots or petioles. Some can be found by their distinctive leaf rolling activity e.g. Deporaus betulae in alder or Bycticus betulae in birch and Deporaus mannerheimi is a (Larval) leaf miner. |
||||
![]() Byctiscus populi |
||||
![]() Deporaus betulae |
![]() Deporaus betulae |
|||
Involvulus caeruleus |
![]() Involvulus cupreus |
|||
![]() Lasiorhynchites cavifrons |
![]() Lasiorhynchites cavifrons |
|||
![]() Tatianaerhynchites aequatus |
![]() Tatianaerhynchites aequatus |
![]() Tatianaerhynchites aequatus |
![]() Tatianaerhynchites aequatus |
![]() Tatianaerhynchites aequatus |
![]() Neocoenorrhinus interpunctatus |
||||
![]() Temnocerus nanus |
![]() Temnocerus nanus |
|||
![]() Temnocerus coeruleus |
![]() Temnocerus coeruleus |