Acorn Weevils and their Noses

How can she possibly move through the foliage with a nose this long?  Found this lovely female weevil hanging out (literally) in an area where I often bump into these Curculio genus weevils (aka Nut & Acorn Weevils).  

I’m not sure what species she is, but I’m confident she is a she because of the length of her nose (rostrum). Females in the genus can have noses that are much longer than their bodies, while males do not.  

The second pic shows what I suspect is a male of another species of Curculio.  Notice how much shorter his nose is.

A weevil like this has tiny chewing mouthparts at the end of the rostrum.  The female uses hers to drill a hole in a nut, & she then lays eggs in the hole.  The weevil babies grow inside the nut & eat it.  

The antennae, which are part way down the rostrum, can be protected by tucking them into a special groove on either side of the rostrum.

The list of things I love about these weevils is long (as long as a female Curculio’s rostrum 😉): their furry coats, their delicate antennae, their ball & socket heads, their oversized eyes, their funky feet, their spiky thighs, &, of course, those long, skinny noses. 

But, seriously… Can you imagine how difficult it would be to move around with a nose as long as the female weevil’s nose? 

Shenandoah National Park, Virginia. Photos taken of wild critters where I find them. No posing, pestering, or baiting, & aiming to leave no trace. Corrections welcome to my critter IDs. Olympus EM1 Mark II, M.Zuiko ED 60mm f2.8 Macro, Fenix Headlamp & Focusing Lights, Godox TT350o Flash. DIY Diffuser. Handheld.