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Many plant eating insects can be regarded as pests but an insect which in both larval and adult form eats nettles should appeal to all - well, apart from its looks. The larvae spend their time below ground feeding on nettle roots.

The irridescent sheen of the adult comes from a coating of green scales which covers the black body. These can be lost and results in a rather 'worn', patchy appearance.

Overall length was about 8mm.

Parethelcus pollinarius

A small (3 or 4 mm) broad bodied dark brown/black looking weevil with a long snout (rostrum). 

Parethelcus pollinarius is broadly similar to Nedyus quadrimaculatus and both are common on nettles. The white spots on the elytra of Nedyus are usually distinctive though early in the year they may be worn - fresh adults appear in mid summer

Weevil - Apion Frumentarium

2.5 to 4.5mm. Distinguished from other red Apion spp. by the head structure; completely punctate, including the underside, between eyes and prothorax side margin, this punctuation being similar to that on pronotum. Head long, with temples subparallel and at least one and a half times longer than the eye when viewed from above (A. cruentatum). Eyes and claws black otherwise completely red/orange and clothed with sparse creamy white pubescence. Male rostrum broadest subapically and shining in apical half, in female broadest at antennal insertion and with apical half more shining.

Seed Weevil - Perapion hydrolapathi

A small grey green weevil with ribbed elytra. It is very similar to P. violaceum and detailed examination is necessary to determine the species. Found in areas containing dock leaves

Nedyus Quadrimaculatus

Length about 3 mm. This small dark and very convex weevil may often be rocognised by the presence of two prominent patches of pale scales on the elytra although these may be absent and the extent of pale scaling in general varies.

The filbert weevil - Curculio occidentis

A species of weevil in the genus Curculio. They are considered a pest for many species of oak tree due to the damage they cause to acorns.

 

Common Leaf Weevil - Phyllobius pyri

5 to 7 mm. The legs are reddish brown with a strong leg tooth. The elytra are coppery in fresh specimens becoming blacker with age and have a ribbed appearance. This is the only Phyllobius species that has blade-like ridges on its tibiae.

 

Strawberry Blossom Weevil - Anthonomus rubi

A small grey-black weevil around 2.5 to 3mm long with a tiny pale scutellum

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