Redbud Seed Weevil

gibbobruchus mimus

The Redbud Seed Weevil is a tiny bug that loves to munch on redbud seeds. It has a unique shape that makes it look like a little nut!

Lebensraum: Redbud Seed Weevils live in areas with redbud trees, like forests and gardens.

Aussehen

The Redbud Seed Weevil is a tiny, stout-bodied beetle, usually dark reddish-brown to black, with a rounded shape. It has a distinctive short, broad snout, unlike the longer, thinner snouts of many other weevils. Its body often appears slightly hairy, helping it blend in.

ReichAnimaliaStammArthropodaKlasseInsectaOrdnungColeopteraFamilieChrysomelidaeGattungGibbobruchus

Redbud Seed Weevil

Kategorie

Insekten

Seltenheit

Common

Gefahr

0/5 · Keine bekannte Gefahr

Snaps

Mach den ersten Snap!

Interessante Fakten

Adult weevils chew a tiny, neat escape hole to emerge from inside the redbud seeds!

Its babies, called larvae, eat and grow entirely hidden inside a single redbud seed!

These tiny beetles are specifically adapted to feed *only* on redbud tree seeds.

They can sometimes damage over 90% of a redbud tree's seeds in a single year!

Besondere Fähigkeiten

Redbud Seed Weevils can lay their eggs directly inside developing redbud seeds, ensuring a safe, food-rich nursery for their larvae.

Its strong mandibles help the larva chew through the tough seed coat from the inside, allowing it to emerge.

Its dark, mottled coloration helps the Redbud Seed Weevil blend in with bark and seeds, hiding it from predators.

Redbud Seed Weevils can detect chemical cues from redbud trees, guiding them to the right host plant.

Maße und Details

Flügelspannweite: 4-6 mm
Größe: 2-3 mm
Lebenserwartung: 20-60 Tage
Anzahl der Beine: 6

Ernährung und Fütterung

Larvae munch on redbud seeds from the inside; adults may snack on nectar.

Altersunterschiede: Larvae consume redbud seeds; adults may feed on nectar and pollen.

Hauptnahrung

Eastern Redbud (Cercis canadensis) seeds
Nectar
Pollen

Nahrungssuche

Foraging

Ökologische Zusammenhänge

eats

Eastern Redbud

Cercis canadensis

Larvae develop and consume nutrients from its seeds.

eaten by

Carolina Chickadee

Parus carolinensis

Many small birds forage for adult weevils on plants.

parasitizes

Parasitic Wasp

Eupelmus cyaniceps

Tiny wasps lay eggs on or in weevil larvae, consuming them.

Merkmale

Einzelgänger

Einzelgänger leben den größten Teil ihres Lebens allein und interagieren mit Artgenossen nur zur Paarung oder zur Aufzucht der Jungen.

Farbenfroh

Farbenfroh beschreibt Organismen oder Objekte, die eine große Vielfalt an leuchtenden und deutlich erkennbaren Farben aufweisen.

Pflanzenfressend

Dieses Merkmal kennzeichnet Lebewesen, deren Ernährung vollständig oder hauptsächlich aus pflanzlichem Material besteht.

Wald

Waldlebensräume sind terrestrische Lebensräume, die von dichtem Baumbestand dominiert werden und eine große Vielfalt an Pflanzen- und Tierarten beherbergen.