European Elm Flea Weevil - Orchestes alni

Alternative names
Elm Flea Weevil
Description

A very small (2.5 to 3.5mm) weevil. Each red/orange wing case (elytron) usually has two or more dark blotches, which gives this weevil a rather ladybird like appearance, but it is easily distinguished as a weevil by the distinctive long snout (rostrum). The head, legs and rostrum usually have quite a lot of black colouration unlike Orchestes betuleti.  The larva mines Elm, creating a narrow gallery starting from the midrib, widening into a blotch at the leaf-edge. 

Similar Species

Orchestes betuleti is similar and also associated with Elm, however it is usally all red above, with no significant black markings on the elytra, head, legs or rostrum.  O.betuleti is also very small (only 2.4 to 2.6mm) that is smaller than the typical Orchestes alni specimen.

Identification difficulty

Adult mine

Recording advice

Unless identified by a recognised expert, good photos are required that show the key ID features. Also state the beetle's size in the comments box. If recording the leaf mine, a backlit phto showign the full extent of the mine is needed, and the host plant should be noted

Habitat

Orchestes alni is associated with Elm.

When to see it

The adults are seen around mid summer.

UK Status

Records for this species are mainly from the southern half of England.

VC55 Status

Infrequent in Leicestershire and Rutland.

Leicestershire & Rutland Map

MAP KEY:

Yellow squares = NBN records (all known data)
Coloured circles = NatureSpot records: 2025+ | 2020-2024 | pre-2020

UK Map

Species profile

Species group:
Beetles
Kingdom:
Animalia
Order:
Coleoptera
Family:
Curculionidae
Records on NatureSpot:
9
First record:
12/06/2009 (Calow, Graham)
Last record:
15/05/2025 (Calow, Graham)

Total records by month

% of records within its species group

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