Weevil

Description:

Weevil, a tiny beetle that does enormous damage to growing plants and stored grains. There are more than 40,000 known species of weevils. The mouthparts of a typical weevil are formed into a long snout. There is an antenna on each side of the snout. In a number of species, the snout is longer than the body, which seldom grows to half an inch (13 mm) in length. The snout is used not only for feeding but also for making cavities in which the eggs are laid in buds, fruits, seeds, stems, and roots of plants. When the grubs (larvae) emerge, they feed within the plant parts. Infested fruits fall from the trees, or become stunted, scarred, or wormy, and are generally unfit to eat. Buds and seeds are destroyed by weevils and their larvae, and plants are weakened by their attacks.