COLEOPTERA 



125 





Several minor families of beetles, especially the smaller 

 forms, are related to the Tenebrionids and may be found 

 with them about fungi. 



78. Rhynchophora. This suborder of beetles contains, 

 as stated before, the Snout-beetles. 

 These insects have the heads pro- 

 longed into more or less slender beaks 

 on the tip; of which are located the 

 mouth-parts. The antennae are fre- 

 quently elbowed and are attached 

 to the snouts. The have other more 

 obscure points of difference from the 

 other beetles. Several families of 

 snout-beetles are recognized. Of these 

 we will mention only the more im- 

 portant. 



Curculionidce. Most of the insects 

 known as Weevils belong here, although 

 the term weevil may be applied to 

 certain others without impropriety. 

 A better common name is Curculios. 

 The curculios have snouts which are 

 mostly long and slender but may be 

 short. It is difficult to describe them 

 SD that the beginner may recognize 

 them, although the family is of the 

 greatest economic importance. 



The Plum-curculio (see page 299, 

 Part II), one of the worst insects that 

 attacks fruits, the Nut-weevils, several 

 species of which, belonging to the genus 

 Balaninus, are found in chestnuts, hick- 

 ory nuts, acorns and other native nuts, 



I 



* 



FIG. 93. Types of 

 Snout-beetles (Rhyn- 

 chophora). Slightly 

 enlarged. 



1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, Cur- 

 culionidce; 6, Cakindridce; 

 7, Brenthidce; 8, Rhynchi- 

 tidce; 9, Scolytoidea. 



