Nettle weevil (Phyllobius pomaceus)

🪲 Nettle Weevil (Phyllobius pomaceus)

The Nettle Weevil, Phyllobius pomaceus, is a small, vibrant beetle commonly found throughout Europe. Named for its affinity with stinging nettles, this beetle is instantly recognizable thanks to its metallic green sheen, which helps it blend into lush vegetation.

🔍 Identification

• Size:
  • Length: ~7–9 mm
• Coloration:
  • Bright metallic green, sometimes appearing gold or blue depending on the light
  • Covered in iridescent scales that can wear off with age, revealing a darker body beneath
• Shape:
  • Elongated oval body typical of weevils
  • Long, curved snout (rostrum) and elbowed antennae

🌍 Distribution & Habitat

• Geographic Range:
  • Widespread across Europe, especially common in the UK, Ireland, and central Europe
• Habitat:
  • Found in meadows, hedgerows, woodland edges, and gardens
  • Strongly associated with nettles (Urtica dioica) but also found on other herbaceous plants

🕸️ Behavior & Ecology

• Feeding:
  • Adults feed on the leaves of nettles and similar plants, creating small notches along the leaf edges
  • Larvae live in the soil and feed on plant roots, contributing to nutrient cycling
• Breeding:
  • Mating occurs in spring and early summer
  • Eggs are laid in the soil near host plants
  • Larvae develop underground before pupating and emerging as adults the following year
• Activity:
  • Most visible from April to July, often active on warm, sunny days
  • Flight-capable and may disperse to new feeding sites

🛡️ Defense & Adaptation

• Camouflage:
  • The metallic green coloring acts as camouflage among leaves
  • When threatened, it may drop to the ground and play dead (thanatosis)
• Specialization:
  • Close relationship with nettles allows the species to thrive in specific plant communities

📌 Summary

The Nettle Weevil (Phyllobius pomaceus) is a shiny green beetle that adds a flash of color to nettle patches and meadows across Europe. Despite its small size, it plays a role in plant-insect dynamics, feeding on foliage as an adult and roots as a larva. It’s a charming representative of the rich biodiversity often overlooked in common wild plants like nettles.

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