# Small Nettle Weevil (*Nedyus quadrimaculatus*) The Small Nettle Weevil is a tiny bug that loves to munch on nettles. With its long snout and small size, it’s a fun little creature to discover in nature! - **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Grasslands ![Small Nettle Weevil](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Nedyus_quadrimaculatus_%287004255261%29.jpg&width=800) Photo: Andy Murray, CC BY-SA 2.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Nedyus_quadrimaculatus_%287004255261%29.jpg) ## Appearance The Small Nettle Weevil is a tiny, oval-shaped beetle with a dark grey to black body, often appearing reddish-brown. It has a distinctive, slender curved snout and is covered in fine, textured scales. Its small size and muted colours allow it to blend well among nettle foliage. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Arthropoda - **Class:** Insecta - **Order:** Coleoptera - **Family:** Curculionidae - **Genus:** Nedyus ## Interesting facts - Despite being small, they are super important for keeping nettle plants in check! - Its larvae live \*inside\* nettle stems, munching safely hidden away from danger! - They often play dead by dropping from plants if disturbed, a clever trick! - This tiny beetle has a built-in "straw" (its snout) for sipping plant juices! ## Special abilities - **Rostrum Drill:** Small Nettle Weevil has a long, pointed snout that helps them pierce tough plant stems to feed on sap and juices. - **Leaf Camouflage:** Small Nettle Weevil can blend perfectly with nettle plants because of its textured, dark body, helping them hide from predators. - **Hidden Nursery:** Small Nettle Weevil lays eggs inside nettle stems, providing a safe, food-filled home for their developing young. ## Measurements & details - **Wingspan:** 5-7 mm - **Size:** 2-2.8 mm - **Lifespan:** 60-120 days - **Flight Speed:** 1 km/h - **Leg Count:** 6 ## Diet & Feeding This weevil is a vegetarian, munching on leaves and stems of nettle plants with its special snout. - **Age differences:** Larvae feed inside plant stems and roots; adults eat leaves and stems. - **Primary Foods:** Urtica dioica leaves, Urtica dioica stems, Urtica dioica roots - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eats:** Stinging Nettle (*Urtica dioica*) — Weevils feed on the leaves and stems of nettle plants. - **Eaten by:** [European Robin](https://www.snappit.app/explore/european-robin) (*Erithacus rubecula*) — Small birds hunt weevils for a protein-rich meal. - **Eaten by:** European Garden Spider (*Araneus diadematus*) — Spiders capture weevils in their webs for food. ## Traits - [Solitary](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/solitary): Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care. - [Camouflaged](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/camouflaged): Camouflaged describes organisms that possess coloring or patterns that allow them to blend into their environment. - [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals. - [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Miniature](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/miniature): Pertaining to species that are significantly smaller than typical or average for their kind. - [Pollinator](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator): Describes organisms that transfer pollen, enabling the fertilization and reproduction of plants. ## Collections - [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/insects) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Be careful around nettles, as they can sting! ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Small Nettle Weevil? Look for hard wing covers meeting in a line down the back, then compare the antennae, body shape, legs and markings. Metallic colors shift a lot with lighting. Beetle Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### What is Small Nettle Weevil's wingspan? 5-7 mm ### How big is Small Nettle Weevil? 2-2.8 mm ### How long does Small Nettle Weevil live? 60-120 days ### How fast can Small Nettle Weevil fly? 1 km/h ### What does Small Nettle Weevil eat? This weevil is a vegetarian, munching on leaves and stems of nettle plants with its special snout. ### Where is Small Nettle Weevil usually found? Grasslands ### How does Small Nettle Weevil hunt? Foraging ## More Insects - [Common Eastern Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-eastern-bumble-bee) (*Bombus impatiens*) - [Spotted Lanternfly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/spotted-lanternfly) (*Lycorma delicatula*) - [Brown-belted Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brown-belted-bumble-bee) (*Bombus griseocollis*) - [Eastern Carpenter Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-carpenter-bee) (*Xylocopa virginica*) --- Source: [Small Nettle Weevil: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/small-nettle-weevil)