The discovery of Rhinusa asellus (Gravenhorst), a Palearctic weevil which breeds in stems of Verbascum spp. (Scrophulariaceae), in North America is documented for the first time. This species is currently known from five northeastern states (Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York and Vermont). It was first identified in a funnel trap sample from Albany Co., New York collected in May 2017. A specimen was then discovered in unidentified bycatch material from Worcester County, Massachusetts collected in July 2013. In addition to a morphological identification, DNA barcoding of the mtCOI gene confirmed the conspecificity of the North American specimens with specimens from Germany. There are now five species of Rhinusa known to occur in North America: R. antirrhini (Paykull), R. asellus (Gravenhorst), R. linariae (Panzer), R. neta (Germar), and R. tetra (Fabricius). We give a summary of distribution and biology, and provide an updated key to all species of Rhinusa known to occur in North America.