Clay-Coloured Weevil vs Scaled Fruiteater

Otiorhynchus singularis compared with Ampelioides tschudii

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Clay-Coloured Weevil	Scaled Fruiteater
Kingdom same	Animalia (Animals)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum	Arthropoda (Arthropods)	Chordata (Chordates)
Class	Insecta (Insects)	Aves (Birds)
Order	Coleoptera (Beetles)	Passeriformes (Songbirds)
Family	Curculionidae	Cotingidae
Genus	Otiorhynchus	Ampelioides
Species	Otiorhynchus singularis	Ampelioides tschudii

Evolutionary Relationship

Clay-Coloured Weevil and Scaled Fruiteater share a common ancestor at the Kingdom level: Animalia. (Animals)

Conservation Status

Clay-Coloured Weevil

LC — Least Concern

Scaled Fruiteater

LC — Least Concern

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Clay-Coloured Weevil	Scaled Fruiteater
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Clay-Coloured Weevil

Habitat

Typically found in virtually all terrestrial and freshwater habitats.

Range

Found across Europe (32 countries) and North America (Canada, United States).

Scaled Fruiteater

Habitat

Typically found in various aerial, terrestrial, and aquatic environments.

Range

Distributed across Colombia, Ecuador, Norway, and Venezuela.

Clay-Coloured Weevil

The Clay-coloured Weevil, Otiorhynchus singularis, is a small flightless beetle in the family Curculionidae native to Europe and widely established as an introduced pest in many parts of North America and other temperate regions. The adult weevil is typically 5–7 mm in length, mottled gray-brown or clay-colored with patches of pale scales that provide camouflage against bark and soil. Like other Otiorhynchus weevils, the Clay-coloured Weevil is parthenogenetic in most introduced populations, consisting entirely of females that reproduce without mating. Adults are nocturnal, feeding on the foliage and bark of a wide range of host plants including strawberries, raspberries, currants, ornamental shrubs, and nursery stock. The larvae develop in soil, feeding on roots and causing significant damage that can girdle and kill established plants. The species is considered a serious horticultural pest in affected regions, causing economic losses in soft fruit production, nurseries, and ornamental plantings. Management typically involves biological control using entomopathogenic nematodes or fungi, as chemical control of soil-dwelling larvae is difficult. The species is well established across temperate Europe and has been accidentally introduced to parts of North America through the horticultural trade.

Scaled Fruiteater

Scaled Fruiteater (Ampelioides tschudii) is classified as Least Concern (LC) on the IUCN Red List. Widespread and abundant across its range, with stable populations and no immediate conservation concerns.

Shared Countries

Both species can be found in 1 countries:

🇳🇴 Norway