Lesser Knapweed Flower Weevil
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Lesser Knapweed Flower Weevil
Larinus minutus
The Lesser Knapweed Flower Weevil is a tiny bug that loves to munch on knapweed flowers. It has a long snout and is usually brown or gray, blending in with its surroundings.
Habitat: Grasslands
Appearance
The Lesser Knapweed Flower Weevil is a small, oval-bodied insect, typically dark brown to black, often covered in fine greyish scales giving it a dusty appearance. It has a prominent, curved snout called a rostrum, which visually distinguishes it from many other small beetles.
KingdomAnimaliaPhylumArthropodaClassInsectaOrderColeopteraFamilyCurculionidaeGenusLarinus
Category
InsectsRarity
Common
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Snaps
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Interesting facts
A female weevil lays all her eggs individually inside flower heads.
It helps control knapweed, an invasive plant, by eating its seeds!
Its larvae are legless grubs that live secretly inside plant seeds!
This tiny insect can play dead by freezing perfectly still when threatened.
Special abilities
Ability
Seed Seeker Snout
Lesser Knapweed Flower Weevil can bore into plant tissue with its strong rostrum to lay eggs and feed on seeds.
Ability
Camouflage Coat
Lesser Knapweed Flower Weevil has dusty scales that help them blend perfectly with knapweed plants, hiding from predators.
Ability
Tough Shell
Lesser Knapweed Flower Weevil has a hard, protective exoskeleton that helps them resist attacks from small predators.
Measurements & details
- Size
- 3-5 mm
- Lifespan
- 30-200 days
- Leg Count
- 6
Diet & Feeding
Adults and larvae both munch on parts of knapweed flowers and seeds, helping to manage the plant.
Age differences: Larvae feed exclusively on seeds within the flower head, while adults consume pollen and flower tissue.
Primary Foods
- Lesser knapweed seeds
- Lesser knapweed pollen
- Lesser knapweed flower tissue
Foraging Method
- Foraging
Ecological connections
eats
Lesser Knapweed
Centaurea nigra
Adults and larvae feed on its seeds and flowers.
eaten by
Eurasian Blue Tit
Cyanistes caeruleus
Small birds forage for weevils on plants.
parasitizes
Braconid Wasp
Bracon intercessor
Its larvae develop inside the weevil's larvae.
eaten by
Garden Cross Spider
Araneus diadematus
Weevils can be caught in spider webs.
Traits
Solitary
Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care.
Camouflaged
Camouflaged describes organisms that possess coloring or patterns that allow them to blend into their environment.
Grassland
Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals.
Herbivorous
This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material.
Keystone Species
Describes a species whose presence and role have a disproportionately large effect on its environment.
Miniature
Pertaining to species that are significantly smaller than typical or average for their kind.
Pollinator
Describes organisms that transfer pollen, enabling the fertilization and reproduction of plants.
Also known as
No aliases listed yet.
Collections
Safety
Danger
1/5 · Very low
It's best to look at bugs from a distance and not touch them.
Frequently Asked Questions
How big is Lesser Knapweed Flower Weevil?
3-5 mm
How long does Lesser Knapweed Flower Weevil live?
30-200 days
What does Lesser Knapweed Flower Weevil eat?
Adults and larvae both munch on parts of knapweed flowers and seeds, helping to manage the plant.
Where is Lesser Knapweed Flower Weevil usually found?
Grasslands
How does Lesser Knapweed Flower Weevil hunt?
Foraging
How many legs does Lesser Knapweed Flower Weevil have?
6
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