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Nettle Weevil / Phyllobius pomaceus

It’s weevil party season here in the sunny UK. About this time of year nettle weevils come out of hiding to mate on stinging nettles, I guess that’s where they get their name from. Occasionally there is a casualty along the way, including this female. Not to worry though there is literally squillions of them all over the place at the moment. Those shiny iridescent greeny yellowy bluey scales came off rather easily; I saw plenty of them walking around that were almost completely black.

 

The left foot is displaying the grip combination of micro-fine hairs for a huge surface area and increased friction, and a tiny hook at the tip.

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Uploaded on June 13, 2011
Taken on June 12, 2011