Odontocorynus is a genus of true weevils. They occur in the United States and southern Canada east of the Rocky Mountains, in Mexico, and in Central America south to Costa Rica. In some parts of North America, they are the most common and most often seen weevils. They are most common in the eastern and central parts of the United States and Canada and in central Mexico. There are few records outside of these two areas.

In the 1920s, the genus Odontocorynus included 64 species. Following a recent review of the genus (Prena, 2008), only 16 species remain. There are 7 Odontocorynus species in North America north of Mexico, and at least 3 species in Minnesota.

Photo by Babette Kis

Adults feed on flower pollen from plants in many families, but especially plants in the Aster (Asteraceae) family. They feed primarily on uncultivated plants, and they are not considered an agricultural pest.

Description

Odontocorynus beetles are easily recognized by the distinctive shape of the antennae. However, there is significant morphological variability within every species, making identification to the species level very difficult.

The front of the head is projected forward into a long snout (rostrum). Adults are 1⁄16″ to ¼″ (2.2 to 6.56 mm) in length not including the rostrum. The jaws (mandibles) are triangular. The antennae are clubbed. The first antennal segment (scape) is compressed. On the male the antennae are modified in a few ways, including an asymmetrical scape.

The rear margin of the plate between the wing bases (scutellum) is notched.


Distribution
		Sources 27, 29, 30, 82, 83.
2/17/2024


Taxonomy
Order	Coleoptera (beetles)
Suborder	Polyphaga (water, rove, scarab, long-horned, leaf, and snout beetles)
Infraorder	Cucujiformia
Superfamily	Curculionoidea (snout and bark beetles)
Family	Curculionidae (true weevils)
Subfamily	Baridinae (flower weevils)
Tribe	Madarini

Subordinate Taxa
In the 1920s, the genus Odontocorynus included 64 species. Following a recent review of the genus (Prena, 2008), only 16 species remain in the genus. Some sources continue to recognize some (NatureServe and iNaturalist) or all (GBIF and Discover Life) of the 64 species. One of the no longer recognized species that is still listed by NatureServe is Odontocorynus scutellumalbum. It was reported in Minnesota at Cedar Creek Ecosystem Science Reserve in Anoka County. That name is now a synonym of Odontocorynus umbellae.
daisy flower weevil (Odontocorynus umbellae) flower weevil (Odontocorynus calcarifer) flower weevil (Odontocorynus creperus) flower weevil (Odontocorynus falsus) flower weevil (Odontocorynus histriculus) flower weevil (Odontocorynus larvatus) flower weevil (Odontocorynus latiscapus) flower weevil (Odontocorynus luteogramma) flower weevil (Odontocorynus nunume) flower weevil (Odontocorynus procerus) flower weevil (Odontocorynus pulverulentus) flower weevil (Odontocorynus subvittatus) flower weevil (Odontocorynus suturaflava) flower weevil (Odontocorynus tectus) flower weevil (Odontocorynus townsendi) rugged flower weevil (Odontocorynus salebrosus)

Synonyms


Common Names
This genus has no common name. The common name of the subfamily Lampyridae is flower weevils, and it is used here for convenience.

Glossary

Rostrum

The stiff, beak-like projection of the carapace or prolongation of the head of an insect, crustacean, or cetacean.

Scape

On plants: An erect, leafless stalk growing from the rootstock and supporting a flower or a flower cluster. On insects: The basal segment of the antenna.

Scutellum

The exoskeletal plate covering the rearward (posterior) part of the middle segment of the thorax in some insects. In Coleoptera, Hemiptera, and Homoptera, the dorsal, often triangular plate behind the pronotum and between the bases of the front wings. In Diptera, the exoskeletal plate between the abdomen and the thorax.


Visitor Photos

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Alfredo Colon
Odontocorynus umbellae or Odontocorynus salebrosus

Babette Kis

Flower Weevil Odontocorynus

Several of these small weevils were on oxeye daisy flowers. A bright, sunny day for photos, which were taken at Barnes Prairie, Racine County, WI. on 6/27/2022.


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Other Videos

FLOWER WEEVIL, Odontocorynus with Diabrotica cristata on Coneflower
Rob Curtis

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Feb 28, 2020

FLOWER WEEVIL, Odontocorynus with Diabrotica cristata on Coneflower

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Alfredo Colon
8/5/2022

Location: Albany, NY

Odontocorynus umbellae or Odontocorynus salebrosus

Babette Kis
6/27/2022

Location: Barnes Prairie, Racine County, WI

Several of these small weevils were on oxeye daisy flowers. A bright, sunny day for photos, which were taken at Barnes Prairie, Racine County, WI. on 6/27/2022.