The tooth-nosed snout weevils, Rhynchitidae, 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.

Rhynchitidae
Byctiscus betulae
Scientific classification
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Rhynchitidae (disputed)
Byctiscus populi in copula and leaf-rolling

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 Rhynchitidae 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

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These genera belong to the subfamily Rhynchitinae:[1][2][3][4]

References

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  1. ^ "Rhynchitinae Report". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 2020-11-01.
  2. ^ "Rhynchitinae subfamily Information". BugGuide.net. Retrieved 2020-11-01.
  3. ^ Alonso-Zarazaga, Miguel A.; Lyal, Christopher H. C. (1999). A World Catalogue of Families and Genera of Curculionoidea (Insecta: Coleoptera) (Excepting Scotylidae and Platypodidae). Entomopraxis. ISBN 978-84-605-9994-4.
  4. ^ Bouchard, Patrice; Bousquet, Yves; Davies, Anthony E.; Alonso-Zarazaga, Miguel A.; et al. (2011). "Family-group names in Coleoptera (Insecta)". ZooKeys (88): 1–972. doi:10.3897/zookeys.88.807. PMC 3088472. PMID 21594053.
  • Triplehorn CA, Johnson NF. 2005. Borror and Delong's Introduction to the Study of Insects. 7th Edition. ISBN 0-03-096835-6
  • Hall DW, Buss LJ. (2007). Thief weevil, Pterocolus ovatus Fabricius. Featured Creatures. EENY-420.
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