Nettle weevil (Phyllobius pomaceus)

🪲 Overview

The Nettle Weevil, Phyllobius pomaceus, is a small, iridescent green beetle commonly found across Europe, particularly in areas with nettles (Urtica dioica). It’s a member of the Curculionidae family (true weevils) and is easily recognized by its metallic sheen and long snout.

🔍 Identification

The green color fades when the beetle is dead or loses its scales.

🌿 Habitat & Host Plants

• Found in meadows, hedgerows, woodland edges, and gardens.
• Closely associated with nettles, but may also feed on:
  • Hops (Humulus lupulus)
  • Various herbaceous plants

🍽️ Feeding & Life Cycle

Adults

• Appear in spring (April–June).
• Feed on nettles, chewing notches in the leaf margins.

Larvae

• Live underground and feed on roots of host plants.
• Less noticeable but can affect plant health if populations are high.

🔁 Life Cycle

1. Spring: Adults emerge and feed on foliage.
2. Early summer: Mating and egg-laying on or near host plants.
3. Summer to autumn: Larvae develop underground, feeding on roots.
4. Winter: Pupation occurs in soil; adults emerge the following spring.

🧠 Interesting Facts

• Although common, P. pomaceus rarely causes serious damage to plants.
• Its striking green coloration is not pigment-based but caused by light-reflecting scales — a form of structural coloration.
• It’s part of a larger group of weevils often called leaf weevils.

✅ Distinguishing Tips

• Unlike many weevils, the bright metallic green makes P. pomaceus quite easy to identify in the field.
• Look for it sitting on nettle leaves, especially in sunny spots.