Native to the western Palaearctic and introduced in North America and other temperate regions.
Fine-art photographic collection
Brachypera zoilus
A clover weevil whose larva spins a transparent cage before becoming a beetle.
About this species
Brachypera zoilus(Scopoli, 1763)
Information reviewed15 July 2026
Brachypera zoilus is a large clover-feeding weevil. The larva feeds exposed on leaves, then constructs a distinctive mesh-like cocoon rather than disappearing into soil or solid plant tissue.
Taxonomy
Animalia · Arthropoda · Insecta · Coleoptera · Curculionidae · Brachypera
Accepted species. A vernacular name is omitted because no single English name was verified in the linked taxonomic record. · checked 2026-07-15
Western Palaearctic and introduced regionsBroad documented range and selected reference localities — not a complete occurrence map.
Grassland, pasture, field margins and crops containing clovers or lucerne.
Adults and larvae are seasonal on host plants.
Larvae and adults feed on legumes, especially clovers and lucerne.
Solitary.
What makes this species remarkable?
Before pupating, the larva spins a delicate open network that looks more like a tiny transparent cage than a conventional sealed cocoon.
Adults feed mainly at night and hide by day, so substantial leaf damage can accumulate while the responsible beetles remain almost invisible.
The species can survive unfavourable seasons as eggs, larvae or adults, spreading risk across several life stages instead of relying on one overwintering form.