The vine weevil Otiorhynchus sulcatus (Fabricius) (Fig. 1) is a common, moderately large (9 - 10mm long), blackish beetle with patches of golden yellow hairs that is well known to gardeners as a potentially serious pest. It has been estimated to cost the British horticulture industry up to £30 million each year.
The adults are 
nocturnal leaf feeders with a preference for woody
plants with tough, waxy leaves. The common name is rather misleading since, at
least in this country, grape vines (Vitis) seem not to be especially
preferred when alternative plants are available. They are often found climbing
up walls at night as well as being frequently attracted towards electric light.
The larvae are white with orange heads and develop in the roots, especially,
but not exclusively, of containerised plants.
This species can be biologically controlled using a freely available species of nematode worm but, as males of this weevil are very rare and it is a largely parthenogenetic species, the destruction of every larva and adult is necessary in order to eradicate a well-established colony.
Most members of the Otiorhynchus genus are found in the Palaearctic and there are currently over 1,000 described species. All are robust, long-lived, polyphagous and highly mobile and it this combination of factors that makes these beetles successful colonists, with O.sulcatus now established in New Zealand, Australia, and North and South America.
Vine weevils are continually being introduced into our gardens with potted plants and recently, two more similar looking European species, O. armadillo (Rossi) and O. salcicola Heyden, have become established in this country. I am very keen to discover if they are now found in Suffolk.
I would, therefore, greatly appreciate specimens of vine weevils from across the county - do not worry if you are unsure about whether your specimens are vine weevils; all records will be valuable for my database and your name will be assigned to the record. Beetles may be sent easily through the post in any non-breakable container e.g. a plastic film canister or a screw top from a plastic bottle such as that from Dettol, wrapped tightly in Clingfilm or polythene (not Sellotape) to seal in the beetles.
Please include the capture date and your name and address (e-mail or phone contact details appreciated but not essential) together with any other information that you think may be helpful such as an 0.S. National Grid reference and host plant. The results of the survey will be published in either White Admiral or Suffolk Natural History and all those who have sent in specimens will be fully acknowledged.
Acknowledgement
I thank Sean Milne for allowing me to use his illustration of O. sulcatus.
David R. Nash, Coleoptera Recorder, 3 Church Lane, Brantham, Suffolk CO 11 1PU. E-mail: dr.nash@btinternet.com.
© 2005 Suffolk Naturalists' Society
used by kind permision.