# 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! - **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 0/5 · No known danger - **Snaps:** 2 - **Habitat:** Redbud Seed Weevils live in areas with redbud trees, like forests and gardens. - **Also known as:** Nut Weevil, Redbud Weevil, Seed Weevil ![Redbud Seed Weevil](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Gibbobruchus_mimus_P1450282a.jpg&width=800) Photo: xpda, CC BY-SA 4.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Gibbobruchus_mimus_P1450282a.jpg) ## Appearance 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. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Arthropoda - **Class:** Insecta - **Order:** Coleoptera - **Family:** Chrysomelidae - **Genus:** Gibbobruchus ## Interesting facts - 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! ## Special abilities - **Precision Planter:** Redbud Seed Weevils can lay their eggs directly inside developing redbud seeds, ensuring a safe, food-rich nursery for their larvae. - **Seed Shredder:** Its strong mandibles help the larva chew through the tough seed coat from the inside, allowing it to emerge. - **Tiny Disguise:** Its dark, mottled coloration helps the Redbud Seed Weevil blend in with bark and seeds, hiding it from predators. - **Scent Seeker:** Redbud Seed Weevils can detect chemical cues from redbud trees, guiding them to the right host plant. ## Measurements & details - **Wingspan:** 4-6 mm - **Size:** 2-3 mm - **Lifespan:** 20-60 days - **Leg Count:** 6 ## Diet & Feeding Larvae munch on redbud seeds from the inside; adults may snack on nectar. - **Age differences:** Larvae consume redbud seeds; adults may feed on nectar and pollen. - **Primary Foods:** Eastern Redbud (Cercis canadensis) seeds, Nectar, Pollen - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eats:** Eastern Redbud (*Cercis canadensis*) — Larvae develop and consume nutrients from its seeds. - **Eaten by:** [Carolina Chickadee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/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. ## Traits - [Solitary](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/solitary): Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. - [Pollinator](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator): Describes organisms that transfer pollen, enabling the fertilization and reproduction of plants. ## Collections - [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/insects) ## Safety **Danger:** 0/5 · No known danger No special safety notes yet. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Redbud Seed Weevil? Look for hard wing covers meeting in a line down the back, then compare the antennae, body shape, legs and markings. Metallic colors shift a lot with lighting. Beetle Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### What is Redbud Seed Weevil's wingspan? 4-6 mm ### How big is Redbud Seed Weevil? 2-3 mm ### How long does Redbud Seed Weevil live? 20-60 days ### What does Redbud Seed Weevil eat? Larvae munch on redbud seeds from the inside; adults may snack on nectar. ### Where is Redbud Seed Weevil usually found? Redbud Seed Weevils live in areas with redbud trees, like forests and gardens. ### How does Redbud Seed Weevil hunt? Foraging ### How many legs does Redbud Seed Weevil have? 6 ## Where to spot - [Canal Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/canal-park) — District of Columbia, US · Park - [Herring Run Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/herring-run-park) — Maryland, US · Park - [United States National Arboretum](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/united-states-national-arboretum) — District of Columbia, US · Botanical Garden [View all places to see Redbud Seed Weevil](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/redbud-seed-weevil) ## More Insects - [Common Eastern Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-eastern-bumble-bee) (*Bombus impatiens*) - [Spotted Lanternfly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/spotted-lanternfly) (*Lycorma delicatula*) - [Brown-belted Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brown-belted-bumble-bee) (*Bombus griseocollis*) - [Eastern Carpenter Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-carpenter-bee) (*Xylocopa virginica*) --- Source: [Redbud Seed Weevil: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/redbud-seed-weevil)