Science Fair Project Encyclopedia
Weevil
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Nemonychidae |
A weevil is a beetle from the Curculionoidea superfamily. There are over 60,000 species in several families, mostly in the family Curculionidae (the true weevils).
They are usually small, less than 6mm (¼ inch), and herbivorous. Due to the shape of their heads, weevils are commonly known as snout beetles.
Weevils are destructive to crops. The grain or wheat weevil (Sitophilus granarius) damages stored grain. The boll weevil (Anthonomus grandis) attacks cotton crops. It lays its eggs inside unripe cotton bolls, and the young weevils eat their way out. Biscuit weevils (Stegobium paniceum) were previously known for eating the biscuits on board ships. The Zyzzyva weevil is a genus of tropical American weevil.
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