Numbers
14 spp. in our area (all adventive), of which 11 in Canada; a huge Palaearctic genus with ca. 160 spp. in Europe alone
(1)(2)Identification
snout stout, squarish, widened toward tip; pronotum roundish with pebbled or bumpy surface; elytra color varies from light yellowish-brown to black, surface variously sculptured, rarely smooth; flightless (hind wings absent)
For hi-res images of most of our spp., see
(3)(4)(5)Range
native to the Palaearctic, adventive but widely established in NA north to AK, NWT
Habitat
usually on or near host plant; adults may be attracted to light, and may enter homes in fall in search of hibernation site
Season
adults often spend colder months in homes and can be crawling around virtually anytime
Food
larvae and adults are polyphagous herbivores
(1)Life Cycle
one generation per year; overwinters as a larva in soil, or adult in leaf litter (or in homes)
most of NA populations are female-only (parthenogenetic) -- except for
O. ligneus, O. meridionalis, & O. porcatus-- although in Europe males of all species are known
(6)Contributed by
Cotinis on 29 September, 2004 - 7:34am
Additional contributions by
Robin McLeod,
v belovLast updated 11 January, 2011 - 2:57pm
