Vine Weevil
Otiorhynchus sulcatus
This record describes Otiorhynchus sulcatus (species). Recorded family: Curculionidae. Recorded order: Coleoptera.
Identification and Appearance
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Additional details | Length Adults about 10 mm. |
| Elytra | Elytra black mottled with small brown patches, grooved, not shiny. |
| Antennae | Antennae relatively long. |
| Pronotum | Pronotum pebbly in texture. Unless identified by a recognised expert, good photos are required that show the key ID features. Also state the beetle's size in the comments box. Various habitats including parks, gardens and conifer nursery beds. They may even be seen trying to access buildings in colder months. Peak is summer and autumn with new adults emerging in summer. Half-grown larvae overwinter in the soil. The larvae are legless, white to pinkish in colour, and have brown heads. Both the adult and larval stages are damaging to seedlings. The adult weevils live above ground feeding on cotyledons and on the bark of seedlings at night. Root weevil larvae are subterranean, feeding on the roots of many kinds of plants including conifer seedlings in nursery beds. |
Wikipedia reference for Otiorhynchus sulcatus: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Otiorhynchus_sulcatus.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Coleoptera (Beetles)
- Suborder
- Polyphaga
- Superfamily
- Curculionoidea
- Family
- Curculionidae (Snout and Bark Beetles)
- Subfamily
- Entiminae
- Tribe
- Otiorhynchini
- Genus
- Otiorhynchus
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Various habitats including parks, gardens and conifer nursery beds. They may even be seen trying to access buildings in colder months.
Seasonal Activity
Peak is summer and autumn with new adults emerging in summer.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
Half-grown larvae overwinter in the soil. The larvae are legless, white to pinkish in colour, and have brown heads. Both the adult and larval stages are damaging to seedlings. The adult weevils live above ground feeding on cotyledons and on the bark of seedlings at night. Root weevil larvae are subterranean, feeding on the roots of many kinds of plants including conifer seedlings in nursery beds.
Additional species information
Recorded status
Common throughout Britain
About Primitive Winged Insects: the wider group
Order-level background for Coleoptera, the group containing Otiorhynchus sulcatus. Species-specific details appear above.
Group overview
Coleoptera is the largest order of insects with over 400,000 described species, representing ~25% of all known animal species and ~40% of all insects. In the U.S. alone, nearly 30,000 beetle species have been identified.
Ecological role of the group
Beetles are prominent decomposers, especially in forests, breaking down dead wood and recycling nutrients. As predators, they reduce populations of pest insects. Many species are also important pollinators of flowering plants.
Economic and practical significance of the group
Beetles have major economic significance: leaf beetles (Chrysomelidae) and weevils (Curculionoidea) are among the most destructive agricultural pests globally, costing billions annually, while predatory species like ladybugs provide natural pest control.
Recorded sources for this group: Britannica, Smithsonian, NCSU Entomology. Imported estimates may describe particular regions or reporting periods.
Photos of Vine Weevil (3)
Frequently Asked Questions About Vine Weevil
What is Vine Weevil?
Vine Weevil (Otiorhynchus sulcatus) is a species in the family Curculionidae, within the order Coleoptera.
How big is Vine Weevil?
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Additional details | Adults about 10 mm. |
| Elytra | Elytra black mottled with small brown patches, grooved, not shiny. |
| Antennae | Antennae relatively long. |
| Pronotum | Pronotum pebbly in texture. |
Where is Vine Weevil found?
Habitat: Various habitats including parks, gardens and conifer nursery beds. They may even be seen trying to access buildings in colder months.
When is Vine Weevil active?
Vine Weevil: seasonal activity - Peak is summer and autumn with new adults emerging in summer..
What is the life cycle of a Vine Weevil?
Half-grown larvae overwinter in the soil. The larvae are legless, white to pinkish in colour, and have brown heads. Both the adult and larval stages are damaging to seedlings. The adult weevils live above ground feeding on cotyledons and on the bark of seedlings at night. Root weevil larvae are subterranean, feeding on the roots of many kinds of plants including conifer seedlings in nursery beds.