Family Guide to the British species

References The source of most of the couplets is from my translation of Arved Lompe’s German key adapted for the British fauna. The original can be found at http://www.coleo- net.de/coleo/texte/rhynchitidae.htm and linked pages. The translation is reproduced here with the kind permission of Dr Arved Lompe. The keys to genera , and are translated and adapted from Hoffman (1958) Fauna de France 62: Coléoptères Curculionides.

Checklist of species From the Checklist of of the British Isles, 2012 edition, edited by A. G. Duff. (Available for download from www.coleopterist.org.uk/checklist.htm). This lists 17 species in 9 genera.

BYCTISCUS Thomson, C.G., 1859 Voss, 1951 betulae (Linnaeus, 1758) germanicus (Herbst, 1797) populi (Linnaeus, 1758) interpunctatus (Stephens, 1831) CAENORHINUS Thomson, C.G., 1859 minutus (Herbst, 1797) mannerheimii (Hummel, 1823) pauxillus (Germar, 1824) Samouelle, 1819 RHYNCHITES Schneider, D.H., 1791 betulae (Linnaeus, 1758) auratus (Scopoli, 1763) INVOLVULUS Schrank, 1798 bacchus (Linnaeus, 1758) caeruleus (De Geer, 1775) Legalov, 2002 cupreus (Linnaeus, 1758) aequatus (Linnaeus, 1767) LASIORHYNCHITES Jekel, 1860 TEMNOCERUS Thunberg, 1815 olivaceus (Gyllenhal, 1833) coeruleus (Fabricius, 1798) longiceps (Thomson, C.G., 1888) nanus (Paykull, 1792)

Image Credits The illustrations in this key are reproduced from the Iconographia Coleopterorum Poloniae, with permission kindly granted by Lech Borowiec.

Creative Commons. © Mike Hackston (2014). Translated from Lompe (2011) and Hoffmann (1958)

Family Rhynchitidae Key to British species

1 Head behind the eyes rounded. Rostrum broadening towards the tip, at most twice as long as its broadest point. Upper surface black or elytra blue-metallic. Length 2.8-5 mm...... 2

Head behind the eyes straight or only slightly rounded, so the head is not clearly narrowed. Rostrum at least twice as long as wide and usually longer...... 3

Creative Commons. © Mike Hackston (2014). Translated from Lompe (2011) and Hoffmann (1958)

2 Body uniformly black, relatively short with not all the hairs lying on the surface. Pronotum broader than long, broader than the head across the eyes; pronotum broadest behind the middle and strongly narrowing towards the front. Hind femora thickened, moderately in females, strongly in males. Hind tibiae with pointed tubercles along the inner side. Length 2.5-4.0 mm...... On and alder, more rarely oak, beech, hazel and cherry. Females roll a leaf into an elongated funnel shape and then lay 1-6 eggs inside and drop to the ground to pupate.

Body dark blue, relatively narrow so that the head and pronotum appear elongate; legs slender. Upper surface covered with pale grey hairs that lie on the surface. Pronotum no broader than long and not broader than the head measured across the eyes. Hind femora and tibiae without distinctive features; tibiae sometimes brown. Length 2.8-4.0 mm...... Caenorhinus mannerheimii One birch and more rarely willows and hazel. The larvae develop in fallen leaves.

Creative Commons. © Mike Hackston (2014). Translated from Lompe (2011) and Hoffmann (1958)

2 Upper surface bare although the slopes of the elytra have a covering of extremely fine hairs which lie on the surface. The sides of the hind coxae do not extend to reach the inner surface of the episterna. Upper surface uniformly shining metallic (although the colour depends on the orientation with respect to the light). Robust species, length 4-7 mm...... Genus Byctiscus

Upper surface clearly hairy (if indistinct then narrow species under 3.5 mm. with dark hair lying on the surface). Hind coxae broad, reaching the episterna at the sides...... 3

Creative Commons. © Mike Hackston (2014). Translated from Lompe (2011) and Hoffmann (1958)

3 Upper surface with short, dark hairs lying on the surface which are difficult to see under low magnification. Hind tibiae obtusely angled on the outer surface and smooth. Elytra about 1.5 times as long as their combined width. Narrow, metallic blue species, length 2.0-3.5 mm...... Genus Temnocerus

Upper surface covered with obvious, more or less erect hairs. Hind tibiae sharply angled on the outer surface, the angle finely notched...... 4

Creative Commons. © Mike Hackston (2014). Translated from Lompe (2011) and Hoffmann (1958)

4 Elytra without a short row of punctures between the base of the first complete stria and the suture...... 5

Base of the elytra with a short row of punctures next to the suture, between it and the first complete stria...... 7

Creative Commons. © Mike Hackston (2014). Translated from Lompe (2011) and Hoffmann (1958)

5 Elytra with the 9th stria (second to last) united with the 10th stria (the marginal one) near the middle. Striae very strong with the intervals very convex. Metallic bronzy- copper (occasionally purplish). Hairs on the top surface few, erect...... Involvulus cupreus Feeds on various woody members of the rose family, e.g. blackthorn, plum, cherry, rowan, apple, pear and cultivated hawthorn.

Elytra with the 9th stria remaining separate from the 10th stria all the way to the tip...... 6

Creative Commons. © Mike Hackston (2014). Translated from Lompe (2011) and Hoffmann (1958)

6 Striae on the elytra very distinct, punctured. Pronotum of the male unarmed. Rostrum curved in both sexes. Blue or green species...... Involvulus caeruleus Feeds on various woody members of the rose family, e.g. apples, pears, cherries, plums and rowan.

Striae on the elytra much less distinct, almost lost in the furrowed surface texture. Males with a distinct spine on the pronotum, visible as a small tubercle when viewed from the side. Rostrum of males curved, of females straight. Tarsi short, the second segment broader than long, distinctly lobed at the tip. Upper surface with a clear metallic shine...... Genus Rhynchites

Creative Commons. © Mike Hackston (2014). Translated from Lompe (2011) and Hoffmann (1958)

6 Elytra more compact, at most 1.4 times as long as their combined width. Rostrum curved, as long as (males) or longer than (females) the pronotum. Length 2.0-4.5 mm...... 7

Elytra more elongate, 1.4-1.7 times as long as their combined width. Proboscis usually straight and short, at most as long as the pronotum. Length 3.3-7.2 mm...... Genus Lasiorhynchites

Creative Commons. © Mike Hackston (2014). Translated from Lompe (2011) and Hoffmann (1958)

7 Elytra reddish-brown, usually narrowly darkened along the suture at least behind the scutellum. Body metallic, shining bronze. Rostrum, antennae and legs black. Middle of the antennae, femora and tibiae often reddish or brown. Striae on the elytra narrower than the intervals, which are themselves finely punctured. The ninth stria is united with the tenth in the middle of the side of the elytra. Length 2.7- 4.5 mm...... Tatianaerhynchites aequatus On woody Rosaceae, most commonly on hawthorn. May be a pest in orchards, in particular of apples.

Upper surface uniformly metallic dark blue-black, rarely green or bronze...... Genus Neocoenorrhinus

Creative Commons. © Mike Hackston (2014). Translated from Lompe (2011) and Hoffmann (1958)

Genus Neocoenorrhinus Translated and adapted by Mike Hackston, from Lompe (2009) - http://www.coleo- net.de/coleo/texte/caenorhinus.htm.

1 The ninth stria on the elytra (the second to last) reaches the tip, where it is united (or not) with the tenth stria. Striae broader than the intervals; intervals without punctures or if they are present they are difficult to make out...... 2 Diagram shows an elytron from the side.

The ninth stria is united with the tenth at or a little beyond half way along the elytra. Intervals as broad as the striae with distinct punctures...... 3

Creative Commons. © Mike Hackston (2014). Translated from Lompe (2011) and Hoffmann (1958)

2 The ninth (red dots) and the tenth stria (the marginal stria) on each elytron have some extra punctures between them in the first third under the shoulders. Striae broader than the intervals. Intervals with punctures scarcely visible even with 50x magnification. Hairs comparatively shorter. Dark blue or blue-green. Rostrum as long as the head and pronotum combined (shorter in females). Length 1.5- 3.1 mm...... Neocoenorrhinus germanicus On herbaceous or woody species of Rosaceae and willows. May be a pest particularly on strawberries and cultivated willows.

Ninth and tenth stria continuing as single rows all the way to the base past the shoulders. Striae much broader than the intervals. Intervals shining and with isolated punctures. Hairs on the sides of the elytra noticeably long with at least some being whitish. Rostrum in males as long as the head and pronotum combined and significantly longer than this in females. Metallic dark blue, brassy-green or bronze (then very similar to Involvulus cupreus). Length 2.3-3.8 mm...... Neocoenorrhinus minutus On oak and woody Rosaceae.

Creative Commons. © Mike Hackston (2014). Translated from Lompe (2011) and Hoffmann (1958)

3 The ninth and tenth striae are united beyond the middle of the elytra. Intervals flat with distinct punctures, mainly in a single row in each. Pronotum more distinctly rounded at the sides with crowded punctures, with the areas between them finely wrinkled, matt, without a longitudinal furrow. Head shining and less densely punctured, broader than long. Eyes larger, their diameter as long as or longer than the distance from the back of the eye to the pronotum. Dark blue or blue-green. Length 2.5- 3.4 mm...... Neocoenorrhinus interpunctatus On oaks.

The ninth and tenth striae are united at the middle of the elytra. Intervals convex with finer and more irregular punctures. Pronotum evenly rounded at the sides, the punctures not as dense as those on the head and with broad, smooth areas in between, often with a longitudinal furrow. Head scarcely broader than long. Eyes smaller, shorter than their distance from the front of the pronotum. Dark blue or blue-green species. Length 2.0-3.3 mm...... Neocoenorrhinus pauxillus On woody Rosaceae. The larvae develop as leaf miners which wilt when the veins are chewed through. A pest in orchards, particularly of apples.

Creative Commons. © Mike Hackston (2014). Translated from Lompe (2011) and Hoffmann (1958)

Genus Byctiscus Translated and adapted by Mike Hackston, from Lompe (2011) - http://www.coleo- net.de/coleo/texte/byctiscus.htm

1 Frons weakly concave between the eyes, with elongated punctures. Tip of the elytra with very fine, fluffy, pale hairs, only visible side on. Underside always the same colour as the upper surface. Body green (typical) or blue or greenish-blue or almost coppery, sometimes with the colour of the elytra different from the rest of the body. Length 5.5-9.5 mm...... Byctiscus betulae On birch, alder, hazel, lime, poplar and fruit trees. The female bites part way through one or more petioles or young shoots and rolls the wilting leaves; eggs are laid inside the roll. Pupation is in the soil. The new generation appears part in the autumn and part in spring. On the Continent an important pest in vineyards and known as the vine .

Frons with a deep longitudinal furrow between the eyes, flanked by rounded points towards the rear. Upper surface completely bare. Underside always darker (blue-black) than the upper surface, slightly shining. Upper surface shining, paler coloured, usually metallic green or green with a distinctive reddish gold shine (rarely completely blue or dark coppery and very rarely almost black). Length 4.5-6.0 mm...... Byctiscus populi On various species of poplar, most commonly on aspen. Reproductive biology similar to betulae but only a single leaf is rolled and rarely more than a single egg is laid in each (at the most three).

Creative Commons. © Mike Hackston (2014). Translated from Lompe (2011) and Hoffmann (1958)

Genus Lasiorhynchites

1 Elytra with the striae towards the tip degenerating to randomly-arranged punctures; elytral intervals with a few scattered small punctures. 9th stria fading at about half- way, before that running parallel to the 10th stria, thus the two do not unite. Length 5.5-8.0 mm...... Lasiorhynchites cavifrons Associated with oaks, feeding on young foliage and shoots.

Elytra with the striae evenly punctured right to the tip; elytral intervals with a single row of punctures. 9th stria united with the 10th stria about level with the hind coxae. Length 4-6 mm...... Lasiorhynchites olivaceus Adults associated with a wide variety of woody plants of the rose family e.g. blackthorn, hawthorn and rowan.

Creative Commons. © Mike Hackston (2014). Translated from Lompe (2011) and Hoffmann (1958)

Genus Rhynchites Derived from Hoffmann (1958) Faune de France, 62, Coléoptères Curculionides

1 Rostrum shorter, with a metallic shine before the point where the antennae are attached and often beyond with a longitudinal ridge of the same colour; the section between the antennae and the eyes is usually a reddish to coppery colour. Front coxae in the male well-separated from the front edge of the prosternum. Length 5-7 mm...... Associated with blackthorn and plum species, hawthorn and apple. The female lays 1-3 eggs in the young fruit. The larva feeds on the developing fruit and then drops to the ground for pupation. Adults overwinter and appear the following spring. They also feed on the fruits by poking their rostrum through the skin, leaving marks that don’t heal well.

Rostrum longer, black or violet in the basal half with a long black longitudinal ridge running to the base. Front coxae in the male very close to the front edge of the prosternum. Length 4.5-6.5 mm...... Rhynchites bacchus Associated with various woody species of the rose family, both cultivated and wild e.g. hawthorn, Cotoneaster, apple, pear and cherry. Adults emerge from hibernation in late March to early April and feed for a time before egg laying. They feed on buds, young foliage and developing flowers, which do not then develop. Later on young fruits are eaten and these fall. Eggs are laid in fruit at a later stage of development.

Creative Commons. © Mike Hackston (2014). Translated from Lompe (2011) and Hoffmann (1958)

Genus Temnocerus Derived from Hoffmann (1958) Faune de France, 62, Coléoptères Curculionides

1 Front tibia with a small curved extension at the tip on the inner surface Length 2.3-3.2 mm...... Temnocerus coeruleus Recorded from a number of species including aspen, alder, various willows and pear.

Front tibia without a flap at the tip on the inner surface...... 2

Creative Commons. © Mike Hackston (2014). Translated from Lompe (2011) and Hoffmann (1958)

2 Head (measured across the eyes) distinctly broader than the front of the pronotum and about as broad as the pronotum at the widest point. Eyes protruding in both sexes. Rostrum short in males. Pronotum more or less cylindrical. Smaller species, length 1.8-2.3 mm...... Temnocerus nanus Recorded from silver birch.

Head across the eyes as broad as or slightly wider than the front of the pronotum and distinctly narrower than the middle of the pronotum. Eyes convex in males or not protruding in females. Rostrum of male proportionally longer than nanus. Sides of the pronotum relatively more broadened in the middle. Length 2.5-3.2 mm...... Temnocerus longiceps Associated with willows and birch.

Creative Commons. © Mike Hackston (2014). Translated from Lompe (2011) and Hoffmann (1958)