Biology:Rhynchodes ursus
| Rhynchodes ursus | |
|---|---|
| |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Coleoptera |
| Infraorder: | Cucujiformia |
| Family: | Curculionidae |
| Genus: | Rhynchodes |
| Species: | R. ursus
|
| Binomial name | |
| Rhynchodes ursus White, 1846[1]
| |
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
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 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
This species is endemic to New Zealand and is found throughout the country.[2][4]
Behaviour
This species is active at night and is able to fly.[6]
Hosts
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
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
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 , pp. 53-54, Wikidata Q45061236
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Rhynchodes ursus White, 1846". 8 March 2011. https://biotanz.landcareresearch.co.nz/scientific-names/2f4ccd38-5699-4961-a59e-3bf4ea05c2d9.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 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. https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/31190#page/204/mode/1up. Retrieved 26 February 2018.
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 , pp. 154-155, Wikidata Q130559277 This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
- ↑ , pp. 69-70, Wikidata Q45061695
- ↑ , pp. 48, Wikidata Q105622564
External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Rhynchodes ursus. |
- The elephant weevil featured on RNZ Critter of the Week, 26 August 2022
Wikidata ☰ Q53996696 entry
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