Brachypera zoilus

Previously known as Hypera zoilus (and treated as such in the Hackston key). This species is sometimes known as Clover Leaf Weevil.

Note that the Duff key to Curcolionidae subfamilies fails for this species as the length of the rostrum is less than twice its width (as is acknowledged in the Hyperiniae key once you get there).

My first would have been keyed using Hackston's key. It came to light in the dunes.

Brachypera zoilus, Winterton Dunes (Norfolk, UK), 19th August 2017

This one came to light in a meadow. I keyed it using Duff. As described above, the subfamily key failed but quickly led to a dead end. Fortunately I had a pretty good idea what it was already so realised where the problem was, and once at Hyperinae it was a quick and easy ID.

Brachypera zoilus, Wendling Beck Environment Project (Norfolk, UK), 17th September 2024