Clover Weevil

Sitona hispidulus

Larvae selectively burrow into root nodules, disrupting the nitrogen-fixing bacteria that supply essential nutrients to the host clover plant.

Scientific name: Sitona hispidulus
Taxonomy: Animalia › Arthropoda › Insecta › Coleoptera › Curculionidae › Sitona
IUCN Red List status: Least Concern
Population trend: stable
Biome: grassland
Habitat: Pastures, meadows, cultivated alfalfa and clover fields, roadside verges, and open grassy areas.
Diet: Herbivorous; adults chew the foliage of clover, alfalfa, and other legumes, while larvae burrow underground to feed on root nodules and taproots.
Range: Europe, North America, Northern Asia
Size: 3 to 5 mm in length
Lifespan: About 1 year
Active: diurnal
Threats: Agricultural tilling, insecticide applications, and crop rotation practices.
Safe to approach?: Harmless to humans. It does not bite, sting, or produce irritating toxins. No special precautions or medical treatments are needed when handling or observing this insect.

Sitona hispidulus is a species of weevil native to Europe and introduced to Asia and North America.

Photo: Barry Walter, CC-BY, via iNaturalist