Weevil Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Weevils

The Filbert weevil, Curculio occidentis, a pest of oak trees
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Subclass:	Pterygota
Infraclass:	Neoptera
Superorder:	Endopterygota
Order:	Coleoptera
Suborder:	Polyphaga
Family:	Curculionidae

Maize weevil, Sitophilus zeamais

Weevils are a type of beetle. They are known for eating plants, which means they are herbivores. A special feature of weevils is their long 'snout' at the front of their head. This snout is called a rostrum.

Weevils belong to a large family of insects called Curculionidae. This family might be the biggest beetle family in the world! There are over 45,000 different kinds, or species, of weevils known today. This makes them the largest family in the entire animal kingdom. Plus, there are ten more families of beetles that are closely related to weevils. They are all part of a bigger group called the Curculionoidea.

Weevils: Plant Pests
- How Weevils Harm Trees
- The Maize Weevil Threat
Discovering New Weevil Species
Images for kids
See also

Weevils: Plant Pests

Some weevils can be a problem for humans because they damage plants. These weevils are known as pests. One of the most famous weevil pests is the boll weevil. It causes a lot of harm to cotton crops.

How Weevils Harm Trees

The Ips genus is a group of weevils that feed on Ponderosa pine trees. These weevils carry a special fungus with them. When the weevil eats the tree, it introduces this fungus. The fungus then blocks the tree's resin canals.

Normally, a tree's sticky resin would wash away or trap insects. It's a natural way for the tree to defend itself. But with the canals blocked, the weevil can eat freely. The fungus often kills the tree. Groups of dead trees can easily catch fire, leading to big forest fires. So, these weevils can indirectly cause serious fires.

The Maize Weevil Threat

The maize weevil, Sitophilus zeamais, is another major pest. It attacks many different plants. It harms crops that are still growing in the fields. It also damages cereal products that are stored away.

This includes important foods like wheat, rice, sorghum, oats, barley, rye, and buckwheat. It can even attack peas and cottonseed.

Discovering New Weevil Species

Scientists are still finding new types of weevils. More than 100 new species of weevils have been discovered recently. These new weevils were found on the Indonesian island of Sulawesi.