View source for Biology:Gonipterus gibberus

{{short description|Species of beetle}}
{{Speciesbox
| image = Gonipterus gibberus 1.jpg
| taxon = Gonipterus gibberus
| authority = Boisduval, 1835
| synonyms = ''Dacnirotatus bruchi'' <small>Marelli</small>
}}

'''''Gonipterus gibberus''''' is a [[Biology:Species|species]] of [[Biology:Weevil|weevil]] in the family [[Biology:Curculionidae|Curculionidae]]. It is commonly known as the '''eucalyptus snout beetle''', the '''eucalyptus weevil''' or the '''gum tree weevil'''. It feeds and breeds on ''[[Biology:Eucalyptus|Eucalyptus]]'' trees and is [[Biology:Endemism|endemic]] to Australia.<ref name=Mapondera/>

==Description==
This weevil is greyish-brown with a light coloured transverse band. It is about thirteen millimetres long and not readily distinguishable from the closely related weevils, ''[[Biology:Gonipterus platensis|Gonipterus platensis]]'', ''[[Biology:Gonipterus pulverulentus|Gonipterus pulverulentus]]'', and ''[[Biology:Gonipterus scutellatus|Gonipterus scutellatus]]'', all of which share the same common names, as they have historically been confused with one another.<ref name=Mapondera>Mapondera, T.S., Burgess, T., Matsuki, M. and Oberprieler, R.G. (2012), Identification and molecular phylogenetics of the cryptic species of the ''Gonipterus scutellatus'' complex (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Gonipterini). Australian Journal of Entomology, 51: 175-188. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1440-6055.2011.00853.x</ref>

==Host plants==
''Eucalyptus'' trees are the only hosts for the gum tree weevil.<ref name=Mapondera/>

==Distribution==
The gum tree weevil is endemic to Australia where ''Eucalyptus'' trees are native. Related species in the genus ''[[Biology:Gonipterus|Gonipterus]]'' are invasive pests of eucalyptus in China, Africa, South America, North America, and Europe, and were historically misidentified as ''G. scutellatus'' until researchers examined the DNA of the pest species in 2012 and determined that none of the pests were genuine ''G. scutellatus''.<ref name=Mapondera/> The populations in [[Earth:South America|South America]], which were initially identified as ''G. scutellatus'', and later identified in 1996 as being ''G. gibberus'', are actually ''[[Biology:Gonipterus pulverulentus|G. pulverulentus]]''.<ref name=Mapondera/>

==Significance==
This particular gum tree weevil is of little economic significance in Australia where it has natural enemies, and it does not occur in any other countries. Because of the confusion between this species and related species, all of the published literature on South American populations of ''G. gibberus'' prior to 2012, and much of the subsequent literature, mistakenly attributes properties such as life cycle, host preferences, and other ecological parameters to this species, when in fact they refer to ''G. pulverulentus''.<ref name=Mapondera/>

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

{{Taxonbar|from=Q16753142}}

[[Category:Gonipterini]]

{{Sourceattribution|Gonipterus gibberus}}