Broad Bean Weevil

Thankfully the weather warmed up for the annual King's Dyke Nature reserve bug-hunt, though the sun didn't really appear until we were finishing. The turn-out was smaller than in previous years, but we still managed to record over 150 different species, including this Broad bean Weevil Bruchus rufimanus. This is a frequent species in the UK which is particularly fond of Broad Beans but also other members of the Vicia family. The beetle larvae tunnel into the developing bean seeds within the pod and the subsequent exit holes can cause sufficient damage which can lead to crop rejection.