Pine weevil

( Latin: Hylobius abietis )

This beetle may occasionally be found indoors, sometimes in large numbers, although it really has no reason to be there. The larvae live in tree stumps and in the roots of diseased or dead conifers. The adult beetles may cause some damage outdoors because they gnaw shoots and twigs, but indoors they are quite harmless. The beetles occur particularly in new timber houses, and they are possibly attracted by the scents given off during the first few years.

This species may easily be confused with the black vine-weevil (p. 203). Both are about the same size and have patches of yellow hairs on the elytra, but the snout is considerably larger in H. abietis.