Rhynchodes ursus
| Rhynchodes ursus | |
|---|---|
| |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Coleoptera |
| Family: | Curculionidae |
| Genus: | Rhynchodes |
| Species: | R. ursus
|
| Binomial name | |
| Rhynchodes ursus | |
Rhynchodes ursus, also known as the elephant weevil, is a weevil in the Curculionidae family.[2] It is endemic to New Zealand. It is a wood-boring weevil found throughout New Zealand.
Taxonomy
[edit]This species was first described by Adam White in 1846.[3]
Description
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The adults of this species were originally described by White as follows:
Deep brown ; the thorax with two longitudinal bands of a lighter colour near the side ; elytra above with five rows of hairs, on each side of which is a row of very deep punctures, between every two of which is a smoothish ridge ; across the elytra are two obscure, dark brown bands ; legs black, femora above at the end with a spot of yellowish brown hairs ; abdomen beneath with the last segment having two tufts of hair.
Length, 101⁄2 lines.[3]
This large weevil has a deep brown colour with two lighter bands near the side of its thorax. It has black legs with a spot of yellowish-brown hairs on each femur.[3] It has dense scales on its body, which can be hair-like. In female specimens the antennae are inserted halfway along the rostrum and nearer the front in males.[1] This species varies greatly in size, colour, and in the amount and nature of its hair-like scales. Male specimens are covered with short scale-like hairs, whilst females are have longer, deep brown, or grey, longer more shaggy scale-like hairs. Old individuals are occasionally met with quite black and shining, and almost destitute of any scales whatsoever.[4]
The larvae of R. ursus can be distinguished from other weevil larvae as it is large in size and has broad rounded ends to its premedial plates on its exoskeleton.[5]
Distribution
[edit]This species is endemic to New Zealand and is found throughout the country.[2][4]
Behaviour
[edit]
This species is active at night and is able to fly.[6]
Hosts
[edit]Adult weevils are found on trees, where they gather to feed on sap. Larvae tunnel into dead trunks and branches of southern beeches, rimu and Dracophyllum traversii.[1]
Parasites
[edit]The larvae of R. ursus are the host of New Zealand's largest parasitic wasp, Certonotus fractinervis. Female wasps use a long ovipositor to lay eggs inside the larvae whilst those larvae develop inside trees.[4]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c Christopher H. C. Lyal (2 December 1993). "Cryptorhynchinae (Insecta: Coleoptera: Curculionidae)" (PDF). Fauna of New Zealand. 29. Manaaki Whenua – Landcare Research: 53–54. doi:10.7931/J2/FNZ.29. ISSN 0111-5383. OCLC 30833033. Wikidata Q45061236. Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 February 2021.
- ^ a b "Rhynchodes ursus White, 1846". Biota of New Zealand. 8 March 2011. Retrieved 19 October 2024.
- ^ a b c Richardson, John & Gray, John Edward (1844–1875). The zoology of the voyage of the H.M.S. Erebus & Terror, under the command of Captain Sir James Clark Ross, during the years 1839 to 1843. London: E. W. Janson. p. 16. Retrieved 26 February 2018.
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
- ^ a b c George Vernon Hudson (1934), New Zealand beetles and their larvae: an elementary introduction to the study of our native Coleoptera, Ferguson and Osborn Limited, pp. 154–155, Wikidata Q130559277 This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
- ^ Brenda Mabel May (14 June 1993). "Larvae of Curculionoidea (Insecta: Coleoptera): a systematic overview". Fauna of New Zealand. 28. Manaaki Whenua – Landcare Research: 69–70. doi:10.7931/J2/FNZ.28. ISSN 0111-5383. OCLC 28834752. Wikidata Q45061695.
- ^ Andrew Crowe (2017). Which New Zealand insect?. Auckland: Penguin Books. p. 48. ISBN 978-0-14-100636-9. OL 3731007M. Wikidata Q105622564.
External links
[edit]
- The elephant weevil featured on RNZ Critter of the Week, 26 August 2022