Naupactus minor weevil

Native to South America, now globally wide spread.

N. minor, N. perigrinus and N. leucoloma are very similar in appearance initially - so much so that they are known as the white-fringed beetle complex. I have been advised at entomologist level that N.minor seen here, has a shorter rostrum, a deeper head and stouter elytra, relative to the others. It also has warmer, brownish/pinky grey scales, rather than the cooler bluish grey scales, especially on N. leucoloma.

White-fringed beetles are considered serious pests of many agricultural crops. They feed on several hundred species of plants and seem to prefer those with large broad leaves such as peanut, soybean, cotton and many other leguminous crops. Larvae have also been observed feeding on roots of orchard and forestry trees.

15 mm length