Rhynchitinae, the tooth-nosed snout weevils, are small beetles (1.5 to 6.5 mm) that are usually found in 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 Rhynchitinae 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.
Genera These genera belong to the subfamily Rhynchitinae:
Acritorrhynchites Voss, 1941 Aderorhinus Sharp, 1889 Afrorhynchites Legalov, 2003 Aspidobyctiscus Schilsky, 1903 Auletobius Desbrochers, 1869 Byctiscus Thomson, 1859 Caenorhinus Thomson, 1859 Chonostropheus Prell, 1924 Cyaneugnamptus Legalov, 2003 Cyllorhynchites Voss, 2013 Deporaus Samouelle, 1819 Eomesauletes Legalov, 2001 Essodius Sharp, 1889 Eugnamptus Schönherr, 1839 Eugnamptobius Voss, 1922 Haplorhynchites Voss, 1924 Hemilypus Sharp, 1889 Involvulus Schrank, 1798 Lasiorhynchites Jekel, 1860 Mecorhis Billberg, 1820 Merhynchites Sharp, 1889 Metopum Minurus Waterhouse, 1842 Neocoenorhinidius Legalov, 2003 Neocoenorrhinus Voss, 1952 Neoeugnamptus Legalov, 2003 Pseudauletes Voss, 1922 Rhodocyrtus Alonso-Zarazaga & Lyal, 1999 Rhynchites Schneider, 1791 Schoenitemnus Legalov, 2003 Tatianaerhynchites Legalov 2002 Temnocerus Thunberg, 1815 Teretriorhynchites Voss, 1938 † Stenorhynchites Havlicek 1990
References
Triplehorn CA, Johnson NF. 2005. Borror and Delong's Introduction to the Study of Insects. 7th Edition. Hall DW, Buss LJ. (2007). Thief weevil, Pterocolus ovatus Fabricius. Featured Creatures. EENY-420.
External links
Pterocolus ovatus, thief weevil on the UF / IFAS Featured Creatures Web site