Iris weevil
This tiny weevil's larvae eat only two or three iris seeds each before pupating inside the very same seed capsule where they hatched.
| Where | Pond edges and marshy iris beds |
|---|---|
| Size | 4 to 5 mm body length |
| When | May to June |
The iris weevil is a small, rounded weevil about 4 to 5 mm long, usually black with dense short brown hairs and a single bright white or yellowish spot near the base of the wing cases. Colour can vary, with some individuals brown rather than black.
Adults appear on iris plants, especially yellow flag growing at pond edges and in marshy ground, from May to June. Females lay eggs in the seed capsules, and each larva develops by eating only two or three seeds before pupating in the same capsule.
Traits
Habitat
Wetland
Colour
Black, White
Active
Day
To people
It does not bite or sting and poses no risk to people.
Activity through the year
Often confused with
A close relative in the same genus and of similar small size, best separated by checking which plant it was found on rather than by colour or size alone.
Questions
Is the Iris weevil dangerous to people?
It does not bite or sting and poses no risk to people.
When can you see the Iris weevil?
The Iris weevil can be seen from May to June, by day.
Plate retouched from a photo by Francisco Welter-Schultes, CC0, Wikimedia Commons Licence
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Last updated 2026-09-26. Every entry is checked against published sources.