Curculionidae
Guides
Sciaphilus
Sciaphilus is a genus of weevils in the family Curculionidae, subfamily Entiminae, tribe Sciaphilini. The genus contains at least two described species: Sciaphilus asperatus and S. costulatus. Species are distributed across Europe, Northern America, and parts of Asia. The best-studied species, S. asperatus, is wingless, parthenogenetic, and polyphagous.
Scierus pubescens
Scierus pubescens is a species of crenulate bark beetle in the family Curculionidae. It is native to North America, with documented occurrences across Canada and the northern United States. First described by J.M. Swaine in 1924, this species belongs to a genus of bark beetles associated with coniferous trees.
Sciopithes
Sciopithes is a genus of broad-nosed weevils in the family Curculionidae, established by Horn in 1876. The genus contains approximately six described species distributed in North America. Members are commonly referred to as root weevils, with at least one species, Sciopithes obscurus (the obscure root weevil), documented as a pest of strawberry crops.
Scleropterini
minute seed weevils
Scleropterini is a tribe of minute seed weevils within the family Curculionidae. The tribe comprises at least eight genera, including Scleropterus, the type genus. Members are small beetles associated with seeds, though specific host relationships remain poorly documented for many taxa. The tribe has been recorded across multiple continents with scattered observations.
Scolytodes schwarzi
Scolytodes schwarzi is a bark beetle species described by Wood & Bright in 1992, belonging to the genus Scolytodes within the weevil family Curculionidae (subfamily Scolytinae). It is distributed across the Caribbean, Middle America, and North America. As a member of Scolytodes, it is part of a genus of small ambrosia beetles that typically colonize dead or dying wood.
Scolytus
bark beetles, elm bark beetles
Scolytus is a genus of bark beetles in the subfamily Scolytinae, family Curculionidae. Multiple species within this genus are significant forest pests, particularly as vectors of Dutch elm disease. The genus includes both European and North American species with documented roles in tree mortality. Some species exhibit chemically-mediated aggregation behaviors involving pheromone communication.
Scolytus muticus
hackberry engraver, hackberry beetle
Scolytus muticus is a bark beetle species in the family Curculionidae, commonly known as the hackberry engraver or hackberry beetle. The species is found in North America and is associated with hackberry trees (Celtis species). Like other members of the genus Scolytus, this species exhibits the typical bark beetle habit of excavating galleries in the phloem of host trees.
Scolytus quadrispinosus
Hickory Bark Beetle
Scolytus quadrispinosus, commonly known as the hickory bark beetle, is a bark beetle species in the family Curculionidae. It is native to North America and has been documented in Canada (Ontario, Québec) and the United States. The species is associated with hickory and related host trees. Its dispersal flight behavior has been studied in relation to host specificity, with individuals attracted to host material during flight.
Scolytus unispinosus
Douglas-fir engraver
Scolytus unispinosus, the Douglas-fir engraver, is a bark beetle native to western North America. It acts primarily as a secondary insect, colonizing the tops, limbs, and branches of Douglas-fir trees that have been killed or weakened by other factors. While it occasionally kills young trees, it is generally of minor economic importance and commonly attacks logging slash. In British Columbia's interior, it frequently occurs in association with the Douglas-fir beetle (Dendroctonus pseudotsugae).
Scyphophorus
agave weevils, sisal weevils
Scyphophorus is a genus of snout and bark beetles in the subfamily Dryophthorinae, comprising approximately seven described species. The genus is best known for Scyphophorus acupunctatus, commonly called the agave weevil or sisal weevil, which is a major pest of agave crops worldwide. Species in this genus are native to the Americas but have been introduced to multiple continents through global plant trade. The genus is characterized by its association with plants in the families Asparagaceae (Agavoideae) and Asparagaceae (Nolinoideae, formerly Dracaenaceae).
Scyphophorus acupunctatus
agave weevil, sisal weevil, picudo del agave
Scyphophorus acupunctatus is a specialized weevil native to Central and North America that has become a globally significant pest of agaves and related plants. Adults bore into agave stalks and rosettes, creating entry points for pathogenic bacteria and fungi that ultimately kill the host plant. The species has established invasive populations across Europe, Africa, Asia, Oceania, and South America, facilitated by the international trade of ornamental agaves. Its economic impact is particularly severe on Agave tequilana, threatening the tequila industry, and on wild agave populations important for mezcal production and ecosystem stability.
Sibariops
flower weevils
Sibariops is a genus of flower weevils in the beetle family Curculionidae, established by Thomas L. Casey in 1920. The genus contains more than 80 described species. The name Sibariops is masculine in gender, following ICZN Article 30.1.4.3, which specifies that compound genus-group names ending in -ops are treated as masculine regardless of derivation.
Sibariops concinnus
Sibariops concinnus is a species of weevil in the family Curculionidae. The genus Sibariops belongs to the hyperdiverse weevil family, which contains more described species than any other beetle family. Information regarding the specific biology, distribution, and natural history of S. concinnus remains extremely limited in published literature.
Sibinia
leguminous seed weevils
Sibinia is a genus of seed weevils in the family Curculionidae containing at least 20 described species. The genus is divided into three subgenera: Sibinia (s. str.), Dichotychius, and Microtychius. Species develop as larvae within seeds of host plants, primarily in the families Caryophyllaceae and Plumbaginaceae. The genus has been studied for its potential use in biological control of invasive plants.
Sibinia fulva
Sibinia fulva is a species of leguminous seed weevil in the family Curculionidae. It is found in North America. The species was first described by LeConte in 1876, with a later description by Klima in 1936. As a member of the genus Sibinia, it is associated with legume seeds, though specific host plant associations for this species remain undocumented in available sources.
Sibinia pallida
Ebony Sibinia Weevil
Sibinia pallida is a species of leguminous seed weevil in the beetle family Curculionidae. First described by Schaeffer in 1908, this small weevil occurs in North America. Members of the genus Sibinia are known to feed on seeds of leguminous plants. The species has been documented through limited observations, with records indicating presence in North American habitats.
Sibinia transversa
Sibinia transversa is a small weevil species in the family Curculionidae, described by Clark in 1978. It belongs to the genus Sibinia, a group of seed weevils within the snout beetle family. The species is recorded from North America, excluding Mexico, though detailed ecological and biological information remains limited in available literature.
Sibinia variegata
leguminous seed weevil
Sibinia variegata is a species of leguminous seed weevil in the beetle family Curculionidae, described by Clark in 1978. It is found in North America and belongs to a genus associated with feeding on legume seeds.
Sitona aquilonius
Sitona aquilonius is a species of weevil in the family Curculionidae, described by Bright in 1994. It is known from high-latitude regions of North America including Alaska, the Yukon Territory, and the Northwest Territories. Like other members of the genus Sitona, it is expected to be associated with leguminous plants, though specific host records for this species are not documented in available sources.
Sitona cockerelli
Sitona cockerelli is a weevil species in the family Curculionidae, originally described by Blaisdell in 1938. According to GBIF taxonomy, this name is currently treated as a synonym of Sitones californius. The genus Sitona includes species associated with leguminous plants, though specific details for S. cockerelli are sparse in the available literature.
Sitona cylindricollis
sweetclover weevil
Sitona cylindricollis, the sweetclover weevil, is a broad-nosed weevil in the family Curculionidae. It is a documented agricultural pest of sweet clover (Melilotus officinalis) and alfalfa/lucerne (Medicago sativa). Adults feed on above-ground foliage, causing defoliation damage that is most severe during late summer critical periods. Larvae feed on root nodules and root tissue underground. The species exhibits temperature- and light-dependent dispersal flight behavior, with peak flight activity occurring in morning hours when ambient temperatures reach threshold levels.
Sitona lepidus
clover root weevil
Sitona lepidus, commonly known as the clover root weevil, is a root-feeding weevil native to Europe that has become an invasive pest in New Zealand and North America. Adults feed on clover foliage while larvae feed on root nodules, reducing nitrogen fixation and pasture quality. The species is particularly damaging in New Zealand due to the absence of natural competitors and established biological control programs using the parasitoid wasp Microctonus aethiopoides are underway.
Sitona lineellus
alfalfa curculio
Sitona lineellus, commonly known as the alfalfa curculio, is a broad-nosed weevil in the family Curculionidae. The species is found in North America, with distribution records from Canada (Alberta, British Columbia) and the United States. It is associated with alfalfa and legume crops, though specific ecological details remain limited in published literature. Two subspecies are recognized: S. l. crinitoides and S. l. samniticus.
Smicraulax
Smicraulax is a genus of small true weevils in the family Curculionidae, comprising six described species. The genus was established by W.D. Pierce in 1908 and has received limited biological study. Species occur primarily in southwestern North America. The genus remains taxonomically and biologically poorly understood.
Smicraulax arizonicus
Smicraulax arizonicus is a species of true weevil in the beetle family Curculionidae, first described by Sleeper in 1954. The specific epithet "arizonicus" indicates its association with Arizona. It is known from North America, with its distribution centered in the southwestern United States. Like other members of the genus Smicraulax, it belongs to a group of small weevils whose biology remains poorly documented.
Smicraulax tuberculatus
Smicraulax tuberculatus is a species of weevil in the family Curculionidae, described by W.D. Pierce in 1908. It belongs to a genus of small weevils within the hyperdiverse Curculionidae, the largest family of beetles. The species is currently provisionally accepted in taxonomic databases and has been recorded from North America. Very little specific biological information is available for this particular species.
Smicronychini
Smicronychini is a tribe of true weevils (Curculionidae) established by Seidlitz in 1891. The tribe comprises at least seven genera, including the large genus Smicronyx. Species in this tribe have been documented in southern Africa, where 18 species are recognized, and are associated with host plants in the families Gentianaceae, Orobanchaceae, and Convolvulaceae.
Smicronyx
seed weevils, sunflower seed weevils
Smicronyx is a large genus of true weevils (Curculionidae) containing over 220 described species distributed worldwide. Many species are specialized seed feeders, with several economically important members attacking cultivated sunflowers (Helianthus annuus) in North America. The genus includes gall-forming species and potential biological control agents for parasitic and invasive weeds. Larval development typically occurs within seeds or plant galls, with adults emerging to feed on pollen, buds, or foliage.
Smicronyx albonotatus
Smicronyx albonotatus is a species of true weevil in the beetle family Curculionidae. It was described by Anderson in 1962. The species is known from North America. As a member of the genus Smicronyx, it belongs to a group of seed weevils associated with plants in the sunflower family (Asteraceae), though specific host associations for this species remain undocumented.
Smicronyx centralis
Smicronyx centralis is a species of true weevil in the family Curculionidae, described by Anderson in 1962. It is known from North America, with confirmed records from the Canadian provinces of Alberta and Saskatchewan. Like other members of the genus Smicronyx, it is likely associated with sunflower plants (Helianthus spp.), though specific ecological details for this species remain poorly documented. The genus includes economically important seed weevils that are pests of cultivated sunflower crops.
Smicronyx commixtus
Smicronyx commixtus is a species of true weevil in the beetle family Curculionidae, first described by Dietz in 1894. It is native to North America, with records from the Canadian provinces of Alberta, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan. The genus Smicronyx includes several seed weevil species associated with sunflowers, though specific ecological details for S. commixtus remain poorly documented. Most information about Smicronyx ecology derives from studies of the economically significant species S. fulvus and S. sordidus.
Smicronyx compar
Smicronyx compar is a seed weevil in the family Curculionidae, described by Anderson in 1962. It belongs to a genus of small weevils associated with sunflower and other composite plant seeds. The species has been recorded in North America. Like other Smicronyx species, it likely develops within seeds of host plants, with larvae feeding internally on developing kernels.
Smicronyx constrictus
Smicronyx constrictus is a species of true weevil in the family Curculionidae, native to North America. The genus Smicronyx contains seed weevils associated with plants in the Asteraceae family, including sunflowers. Specific ecological details for S. constrictus are poorly documented in available sources, though congeners are known as seed-feeding pests of cultivated sunflowers.
Smicronyx corniculatus
Smicronyx corniculatus is a species of true weevil in the family Curculionidae. It is native to North America, with records from Canada (New Brunswick, Ontario, Québec). Like other members of the genus Smicronyx, this species is likely associated with sunflower (Helianthus) or related Asteraceae hosts, though specific ecological details for this species are poorly documented. The genus Smicronyx includes seed-feeding weevils that are economically significant pests of cultivated sunflowers.
Smicronyx corpulentus
Smicronyx corpulentus is a species of seed weevil in the family Curculionidae, described by LeConte in 1876. It is native to North America and belongs to a genus whose members are primarily associated with sunflower seeds as pests. Specific ecological details for this species remain poorly documented in published literature.
Smicronyx discoideus
Disc-shaped Weevil
Smicronyx discoideus is a species of true weevil in the family Curculionidae. It is native to North America, with records from Canadian provinces including Manitoba, Ontario, and Saskatchewan. The species was described by Casey in 1892. Beyond basic taxonomic placement and geographic distribution, little specific biological information is documented for this species.
Smicronyx flavicans
Smicronyx flavicans is a species of seed weevil in the family Curculionidae, described by LeConte in 1876. It is native to North America, with records from Ontario, Canada. The genus Smicronyx includes several sunflower-associated seed weevils that are agricultural pests, though specific details about this particular species remain sparse in published literature.
Smicronyx halophilus
Smicronyx halophilus is a species of true weevil in the beetle family Curculionidae. It was described by Blatchley in 1920. The species is found in North America. Beyond these basic taxonomic and distributional facts, little specific information has been documented about its biology or ecology.
Smicronyx incertus
Smicronyx incertus is a species of true weevil in the family Curculionidae, described by Anderson in 1962. The species is known from North America, with confirmed records from Manitoba, Canada. As a member of the genus Smicronyx, it belongs to a group commonly referred to as seed weevils, though specific ecological details for this particular species remain undocumented in the available literature.
Smicronyx interruptus
Smicronyx interruptus is a species of true weevil in the family Curculionidae, described by Blatchley and Leng in 1916. The species is known from North America. Beyond basic taxonomic information, detailed biological data for this specific species appears sparse in available literature. It belongs to a genus containing several seed weevil species associated with sunflowers, though explicit host records for S. interruptus specifically have not been documented in the provided sources.
Smicronyx pinguis
Smicronyx pinguis is a species of true weevil in the beetle family Curculionidae. It was described by Blatchley and Leng in 1916 and is known from North America, with records from Ontario, Canada. The genus Smicronyx includes seed weevils, many of which are associated with sunflower and other Asteraceae hosts, though specific biological information for S. pinguis remains sparse.
Smicronyx quadrifer
white dodder weevil
Smicronyx quadrifer, commonly known as the white dodder weevil, is a species of true weevil in the family Curculionidae. It is found in North America. Very little specific information is documented about this species compared to its congenerics.
Smicronyx rhodopus
Smicronyx rhodopus is a species of true weevil in the beetle family Curculionidae. It is native to North America and belongs to a genus that includes several seed-feeding species associated with sunflowers. Specific biological details for this particular species remain poorly documented in available literature.
Smicronyx sculpticollis
dodder gall weevil
Smicronyx sculpticollis is a true weevil in the family Curculionidae, commonly known as the dodder gall weevil. It is found in North America, with confirmed records from Ontario, Canada. The species is provisionally accepted in taxonomic databases. Little specific information is available about its biology, though the common name suggests an association with dodder (Cuscuta), a parasitic plant genus.
Smicronyx sordidus
Gray Sunflower Seed Weevil
Smicronyx sordidus, commonly known as the gray sunflower seed weevil, is a seed-feeding weevil in the family Curculionidae. Adults are pale gray and approximately 6–8 mm long. The species has a single annual generation and is a recognized pest of cultivated sunflowers, particularly affecting confectionery and hybrid seed varieties. Larvae develop inside sunflower seeds, destroying the kernel from within before dropping to the soil to overwinter.
Smicronyx squalidus
Smicronyx squalidus is a species of true weevil in the family Curculionidae, first described by Casey in 1892. It belongs to a genus of seed weevils associated with sunflowers and related plants. The species is recorded from North America, including Ontario, Canada. Very little specific information is available for this particular species compared to its better-known congeners.
Smicronyx tesselatus
Smicronyx tesselatus is a species of true weevil in the beetle family Curculionidae. The genus Smicronyx comprises seed weevils associated with plants in the Asteraceae family, particularly sunflowers (Helianthus spp.). Several congeners in this genus are significant agricultural pests of cultivated sunflowers, though specific documentation for S. tesselatus is limited. The species was referenced in a 2021 Texas collecting trip report where it was initially misidentified as a lightly marked specimen of the related species Goes tesselatus, a cerambycid beetle.
Smicronyx triangularis
Smicronyx triangularis is a species of true weevil in the beetle family Curculionidae. It was described by Anderson in 1962. The species is recorded from North America. Very little specific information about its biology, host associations, or ecology has been documented in available sources.
Smicronyx tychoides
Smicronyx tychoides is a species of true weevil in the family Curculionidae, first described by LeConte in 1876. It is native to North America, with distribution records from Ontario, Canada and the broader North American region. As a member of the genus Smicronyx, it belongs to a group commonly known as seed weevils, many of which are associated with plants in the Asteraceae family. Specific ecological details for this species remain poorly documented in available sources.
Smicronyx vestitus
Smicronyx vestitus is a species of true weevil in the beetle family Curculionidae, first described by Casey in 1892. The genus Smicronyx includes seed weevils that are associated with sunflowers and other plants in the Asteraceae family. Some congeners, such as Smicronyx fulvus and Smicronyx sordidus, are recognized agricultural pests of sunflower crops. The specific biology and host associations of S. vestitus remain poorly documented in published literature.