Figwort weevils mating

Sorry it's another insect porn picture. I planted Common Figwort Scrophularia nodosa on the bank of the brook at the bottom of our Close, about five years ago, and it is the first time I've seen the Figwort weevil Cionus scrophulariae on it.

Sigma SD14
Sigma 50mm macro lens
02-06-2007
10:32:02
F13
1/60s
Hand held
Flash
ISO 100
A setting
RAW adjustment SPP3
Resized and cropped in PS Elements 4
Slight USM

interesting and confusing at the same time. I am not sure about the composition but think these are interesting creatures, kind of mini elephants....
Rene de Heer

I had to study this picture to make out the Weevils mating.Great camoflage. Interesting picture.

Slightly odd comp David but a very detailed and well exposed image nonetheless - nice one

My initial thought was that the image needed a reflector under the plant to get some light into it or the flash was throwing a shadow of some unseen leaf (or off the lens) onto the weevils. However, it does focus the attention onto the mating bugs and works for me :)

very interesting bit of NH David.
Is Figwort the only plant species these are found on?

Major

Thanks for the comments, gentlemen. No, Major apparently it is a "plant-feeder on figwort, mulleins and orange ball buddleia Buddleia globosa and less commonly on other buddleias." see
http://www.plantpress.com/wildlife/picklist.php&o=207

I planted figwort because it is a native species and also a food plant for the common carder bee, buff-tailed bumble bee, red-tailed bumble bee, white-tailed bumble bee and mullein moth.
It also has medicinal properties see

http://www.pfaf.org/database/plants.php?Scrophularia+nodosa