A small family of 18 primitive weevils, with un-elbowed antennae and long rostrums.  The elytra are often metallic or brightly-coloured.  Most species are relatively hostplant-specific and the larva can often be found developing within leafbuds and young shoots, although Deporaus mannerheimi (Hummel) is a leaf miner on the petioles of birches.  A few species (e.g. Deporaus betulae (L.) in alder or Bycticus betulae (L.) in birch) are leaf-rollers, the female laying an egg on the leaf surface before rolling the leaf up around it for protection.