COLEOPTERA > POLYPHAGA > CURCULIONOIDEA > Curculionidae

Notwithstanding the two weevils that I'm now able to feature from the Hyperinae and Molytinae subfamilies that have been moved to the final page, all the remaining species I've photographed to date are in the Entiminae (broad-nosed weevils) subfamily which, as previously noted, includes 110 species. They are spread across 27 genera separated into no less than 13 tribes.

The first species featured on this page, Strophosoma melanogrammum, is in the Bracyderini tribe. It is said to be one of our most common weevils and also one of the easiest to identify with its wedge-shaped head and distinctive large bare oblong patch at the front of the wing-cases.

The following three are in the Otiorhynchini tribe. There are 24 Otiorhynchus weevils, which have their own identification guide. The first two, Otiorhynchus singularis and the notorious black vine weevil Otiorhynchus sulcatus are common and widespread, whereas the large, dark-coloured Otiorhynchus tenebricosus is comparatively scarce and far less frequently recorded. All three are distinctive and relatively straightforward to identify. Some of the key features of this group include long antennae with a scape that is longer than the head, a rostrum that is pinched in at the middle and wider at the end, round antennae sockets that are exposed from above - commonly referred to as looking like a pig-snout, and wing-cases with rounded sides and rounded shoulders.

Those species are followed with a 'record shot' of a rather wet, small Romualdius (possibly Trachyphloeus) species, from the Trachyphloeini tribe, distinguishable by the rather chunky shape, erect paddle scales and thick antennae. I found quite a few, but they were all soaked and would have to have collected and dried out to properly identify. The mostly exposed antennal sockets with the lower sides of the rostrum appearing to bulge out, coupled with relatively slender, straight scapes suggest Romualdius angustisetulus, which would also be the most likely species from my area. Although the identity is tentative, I'm happy to caption as such and to be able to have some photos for future reference.    

The final weevil is in the Sitonini tribe, which has 21 species in 4 genera, the largest being Sitona with 16 species. This is another Entiminae tribe that has its own identification guide. The key features that help separate these species from other broad-nosed weevils are the large eyes and short antennae, coupled with rather straight-sided narrow wing-cases. The featured species, Sitona lineatus is the common, type-weevil, of the genus that should be ruled out before considering any of the other species. It's general appearance with moderately rounded eyes and clear stripes down the wing-cases together with short oval flat scales and short bristles lying flat in the front half of the wing cases - features that are often impossible to see clearly in photos - normally determine the species, but this becomes more difficult with age when individuals become worn.

On the next page I start to look at a few of the confusing species in the Phyllobiini and Polydrusini tribes.

Updated, Jan.25 (v.4)