Nut and Acorn Weevils
Curculio
Classification
- Phylum: Arthropoda
- Subphylum: Hexapoda
- Class: Insecta
- Order: Coleoptera
- Suborder: Polyphaga
- Superfamily: Curculionoidea
- Family: Curculionidae
- Subfamily: Curculioninae
- Tribe: Curculionini
- Genus: Curculio
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Curculio: //kʊrˈkuː.li.oʊ//
These audio files are automatically generated. While they are not always 100% accurate, they are a good starting point.
Images
Summary
Curculio is a genus of weevils also known as acorn and nut weevils. They are characterized by their long snouts and association with the seeds of trees such as oaks and hickories, where they lay their eggs. Larvae develop within the nuts and emerge into the soil to pupate.
Physical Characteristics
Body length 4.2–13.0 mm; long slender beak; robust body. In some species, female snout may be longer than the body, which is never the case in males.
Identification Tips
Females have a longer snout than males, often exceeding the length of their body.
Habitat
Associated with various Fagaceae, Juglandaceae, and Betulaceae species, commonly found in areas where these trees grow.
Distribution
Widely distributed except in the northern Rockies; approximately 30 species in the area, >350 total worldwide.
Diet
Larvae feed on the nut meat of acorns and nuts.
Life Cycle
Adults typically appear 2-3 weeks before acorns and nuts begin to ripen. Larvae bore holes through the shells of the seeds to emerge into the soil, where they may live in pupation for 1-2 years depending on the species.
Reproduction
The female uses her long snout to bore into the nut or acorn, depositing one egg per chamber she excavates within the nut.
Ecosystem Role
Curculio weevils play a role in seed predation and can influence the population dynamics of host tree species.
Collecting Methods
- Trapping adults using pheromone lures and visual traps.
- Hand collection from infested acorns.
Preservation Methods
- Ethanol preservation for specimens.
- Drying and mounting for long-term storage.
Similar Taxa
- Other weevil species within Curculionidae
- Species in similar ecological niches within Curculioninae.
Misconceptions
Some might confuse them with other beetles or think they are harmful to human health, whereas they primarily affect seeds of specific trees.
Tags
- weevils
- Curculio
- acorn weevils
- nut weevils
- Coleoptera