page_title: Curculionidae
section_title: Phylogeny and systematics
hierarchical_section_title: Curculionidae / Phylogeny and systematics
caption_attribution_description: English: Larva of nut weevil, Curculio (probably C. sayi), from Chinese chestnut acorn. Pennypack Restoration Trust, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, USA. https://bugguide.net/node/view/339655
context_page_description: The Curculionidae are the family of the "true" weevils. They are one of the largest animal families, with 6,800 genera and 83,000 species described worldwide.
  They include the bark beetles as the subfamily Scolytinae, which are modified in shape in accordance with their wood-boring lifestyle. They do not much resemble other weevils, so they were traditionally considered a distinct family, Scolytidae. The family also includes the ambrosia beetles, of which the present-day subfamily Platypodinae was formerly considered the distinct family Platypodidae.
context_section_description: The phylogeny of the group is complex; with so many species, a spirited debate exists about the relationships between subfamilies and genera.  A 1997 analysis attempted to construct a phylogeny based mainly on larval characteristics.
  Recent work on the phylogenetic relationships in weevils mentions the two subfamily groups Adelognatha (short-nosed weevils, subfamily Entiminae) and Phanerognatha (long-nosed weevils, subfamilies of Curculionidae other than Entiminae) for the species of Curculionidae.
  Almost two dozen subfamilies are recognized by some authors even when merging those that are certainly invalid. Others, however, recognize a lesser number – the only subfamilies that are almost universally considered valid are the Baridinae, Cossoninae, Curculioninae, Cyclominae, Entiminae, Molytinae, Platypodinae, and Scolytinae.  The various proposed taxonomic schemes typically  recognize as many additional subfamilies again, but little agreement is seen between authorities about which.  In particular, the delimitation of the Molytinae has proven difficult.
  The subfamilies considered valid by at least some authors today:
  Bagoinae (sometimes in Molytinae)
  Baridinae
  Brachycerinae (disputed)
  Conoderinae (sometimes in Baridinae)
  Cossoninae
  Cryptorhynchinae (sometimes in Curculioninae)
  Acalles
  Curculioninae – flower weevils, acorn and nut weevils
  Cyclominae
  Dryophthorinae (sometimes placed at family level)
  Entiminae – broad-nosed weevils
  Etheridgea (disputed)
  Hyperinae (sometimes in Molytinae)
  Lixinae (sometimes in Molytinae)
  Mesoptiliinae (sometimes in Molytinae)
  Molytinae
  Orobitidinae (sometimes in Baridinae)
  Platypodinae – typical ambrosia beetles
  Raymondionyminae (sometimes in Brachycerinae)
  Scolytinae – bark beetles
  Xiphaspidinae (sometimes in Baridinae)
caption: Curculio, scarabeiform larva
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