Flower weevils

Overview

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.

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

24, 27, 30, 82, 83.

Biodiversity occurrence data published by: Minnesota Biodiversity Atlas (accessed through the Minnesota Biodiversity Atlas Portal, bellatlas.umn.edu. Accessed 10/20/2026).

Odontocorynus Schoenherr, C.J., 1844 in Bánki, O., Roskov, Y., Döring, M., Ower, G., Hernández Robles, D. R., Plata Corredor, C. A., Stjernegaard Jeppesen, T., Örn, A., Pape, T., Hobern, D., Garnett, S., Little, H., DeWalt, R. E., Miller, J., Orrell, T., Aalbu, R., Abbott, J., Abreu, C., Acero P, A., et al. (2026). Catalogue of Life (2026-08-26 XR). Catalogue of Life Foundation, Amsterdam, Netherlands. https://doi.org/10.48580/dgyy9