Clover weevil vs gray wolf

Sitona hispidulus compared with Canis lupus

Key Differences

• Clover weevil is Least Concern while gray wolf is Critically Endangered.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Clover weevil	gray wolf
Kingdom same	Animalia (Animals)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum	Arthropoda (Arthropods)	Chordata (Chordates)
Class	Insecta (Insects)	Mammalia (Mammals)
Order	Coleoptera (Beetles)	Carnivora (Carnivorans)
Family	Curculionidae	Canidae (Dogs & Wolves)
Genus	Sitona	Canis (Dogs & Wolves)
Species	Sitona hispidulus	Canis lupus

Evolutionary Relationship

Clover weevil and gray wolf share a common ancestor at the Kingdom level: Animalia. (Animals)

Conservation Status

Clover weevil

LC — Least Concern

gray wolf

CR — Critically Endangered

Population: ~300.0K

Trend: Stable →

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Clover weevil	gray wolf
Diet	—	Carnivore
Average Lifespan	—	13 years
Average Length	—	1.6 m
Average Weight	—	45.0 kg

Habitat & Geographic Range

Clover weevil

Habitat

Found across multiple habitat types including temperate broadleaf and mixed forests, temperate coniferous forests, and montane grasslands and shrublands, among 5 distinct biome types within the Palearctic biogeographic realm. Populations are also found in montane and highland environments at higher elevations.

Range

Widely distributed across Asia (8 countries), Europe (12 countries), and North America (Canada, United States).

gray wolf

Habitat

Found across multiple habitat types including tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests, deserts and xeric shrublands, and tropical and subtropical dry broadleaf forests, among 13 distinct biome types. Populations are also found in montane and highland environments at higher elevations.

Range

Widely distributed across Africa (Seychelles), Asia (Japan), Europe (5 countries), North America (7 countries), Oceania and the Pacific (Marshall Islands, Vanuatu), and South America (5 countries). Currently classified as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List, this species faces significant conservation challenges across its range.

Clover weevil

The clover weevil (Sitona hispidulus) is a small herbivorous beetle in the family Curculionidae, subfamily Entiminae. Native to the Palearctic region across Europe and Asia, this species has been introduced to North America, where it is now widespread across agricultural regions. Adults and larvae feed on clovers and other legumes in the genus Trifolium and related plants. Adults feed on the leaves, creating characteristic semicircular notches along leaf margins, a feeding pattern typical of Sitona weevils. Larvae feed underground on nitrogen-fixing root nodules, which can reduce the agronomic value of legume crops by damaging the symbiotic Rhizobium bacteria. The clover weevil is consequently regarded as an agricultural pest in clover-growing regions. Adults are grey-brown and densely covered in scales, measuring about 3–5 mm in length. The species overwinters as adults in soil or leaf litter, emerging in spring to feed and reproduce. It inhabits cultivated fields, pastures, meadows, roadsides, and any habitat supporting clover and related legumes. Listed as Least Concern by the IUCN given its wide distribution and abundance.

gray wolf

The most widely distributed wild canid, gray wolves range from North America across Eurasia in diverse habitats including tundra, forests, and grasslands. Highly social animals living in family packs led by a dominant breeding pair. As keystone predators, wolves regulate prey populations and profoundly shape ecosystem structure, as demonstrated by their reintroduction in Yellowstone. Once heavily persecuted, populations are recovering in many regions.

Shared Countries

Both species can be found in 5 countries:

🇩🇰 Denmark 🇯🇵 Japan 🇳🇴 Norway 🇸🇪 Sweden 🇺🇸 United States