Cionus hortulanus

The genus name Cionus derives from the Greek kíonos, meaning column, with reference to the shape of the snout. The Latin species name hortulanus means garden warden.[3]

This species is present in most of Europe,[4] in NW Africa, the Caucasus, Asia Minor, Iran, Siberia, Central Asia and India.[5] These beetles mainly inhabit meadows and hedge rows.[6]

Feeding on Verbascum

Cionus hortulanus can reach a length of 3–4.6 millimetres (0.12–0.18 in).[6] These tiny beetles have a short, oblong and convex body, a conical thorax and a long thin rostrum. Thorax and elytra are covered with grey scales.

The basic body color is grey-brown, with one large velvety black spot in the middle of the elytra and a smaller one at the apex. The elytra bears four raised lines with a series of black markings. The antennae are reddish.[7]

Adults of these beetles can be found from June to September.[6] They feed on leaves of Buddleja and Verbascum species, while larvae feed on Water Figwort (Scrophularia auriculata), Common Figwort (Scrophularia nodosa)[6] and Great Mullein (Verbascum thapsus).[8][9] Females lay eggs on leaves of the host plants.