nut weevil

insect

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

June 22, 2026

Quick Summary

The acorn and nut weevil, belonging to the subfamily Curculioninae within the family Curculionidae, are insects characterized by their exceptionally long and slender snouts. Females' snouts can be nearly twice the length of their bodies, with mandibles situated at the tip.1

These weevils deposit their eggs into holes they chew within nuts. Different species exhibit preferences for specific nuts; for instance, Curculio proboscides targets large chestnuts, while C. rectus and C. baculi feed on acorns. Nut weevils are prevalent in both Europe and North America. The larva of these weevils lives inside nuts.12

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

2 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

acorn and nut weevil
nut weevil, (subfamily Curculioninae), any of approximately 45 species of weevils in the family Curculionidae (order Coleoptera) that have extremely long and slender snouts, which in females can be almost twice the length of the body. The mandibles are located at the tip of the…
Read More
nut weevil, (subfamily Curculioninae), any of approximately 45 species of weevils in the family Curculionidae (order Coleoptera) that have extremely long and slender snouts, which in females can be almost twice the length of the body. The mandibles are located at the tip of the…
Read More