Curculionidae (weevils, snout beetles; subclass Pterygota, order Coleoptera) Family of robust beetles, 1–50 mm long, in which the elytra are toughened, and often highly sculptured, with a patter of coloured or metallic scales. Some are flightless, with fused elytra. The head is produced into a rostrum bearing mandibles at the tip; some are short and stout, others long and narrow, up to three times the length of the body. The antennae are elbowed and clubbed. Larvae are legless, grub-like, and are usually found inside a plant, or underground, at the roots. Many are crop pests (e.g. Anthonomus grandis, the cotton boll weevil, and Sitona lineatus, the bean weevil or pea weevil). There are 60 000 species, making it the largest beetle family.

wee·vil / ˈwēvəl/ • n. a small beetle (Curculionidae and other families, superfamily Curculionoidea) with an elongated snout, the larvae of which typically develop inside seeds, stems, or other plant parts. Many are pests of crops or stored foodstuffs. ∎ inf. any small insect that damages stored grain.DERIVATIVES: wee·vil·y adj.

weevil beetle the larva of which is destructive to grain, etc. XV. ME. wevyl, prob. — MLG. wevel = OE. wifel beetle, OS. goldwivil glowworm, OHG. wibil, wipil beetle, chafer, ON. *vifill (in tordýfill dung-beetle):- Gmc. *web̄ilaz. Continuity with OE. wifel is not shown, and the word may be due to commercial relations with the Low Countries.

weevil
1. See APIONIDAE.

2. See CURCULIONIDAE.

weevil Any of numerous species of beetle that are pests to crops, especially the numerous snout beetles (time weevils), with long, down-curved beaks for boring into plants. Family Curculionidae, the largest in the animal kingdom.