Snout Beetles and Allies - Superfamily: Curculionoidea

Snout Beetles and Allies - Superfamily: Curculionoidea

Snout Beetles or Weevils belong to a cosmopolitan superfamily that contains close to 100,000 species. There are seven families the largest of which is the Curculionidae. All of the families are found in Australia. Most Weevils are small and herbivorous but there is nonetheless substantial variation amongst the species. Because of this, two main groups are recognized, the True Weevils or Corculionidae, and the Primitive Weevils, most other families. The main visual difference between the two is in the antennae; True Weevils have elbowed or 'geniculate' antennae whereas those of the Primitive Weevils are straight. The Botany Bay Diamond Weevil (Chrysolopus spectabilis) was the first insect to be described in Australia (in 1775) having been discovered during captain Cook's first voyage.