Other Common Names
Pine Weevil (this subfamily?)
Identification
Dark reddish brown, rather plump, with a thick beak that is barely curved. Elytra has scattered white-yellowish spots, punctured striations.
Tibiae of usual form,
lack dilated outer
apical angles characteristic of
Pachylobius picivorus (Florida Dept. Agriculture).
Range
Eastern North America, very common in southeast.
Habitat
Pine forests and cut-over pine forests
Season
Spring, summer, into fall (in south)
Food
Adults chew into twigs of young pine saplings.
Life Cycle
Adults are largely nocturnal, attracted to the smell of freshly-cut pines. Females lay eggs in stumps of recently killed or cut trees in spring. Larvae mature by the middle of the summer. They prefer White, Pitch, Loblolly, and Shortleaf Pines.
Remarks
Can be a pest in Chrismas-tree and other pine plantations.
Print References
Cranshaw, p. 454-455, figs. A-D
(1)
Dillon, p. 767, plate LXXIX #9
(2)
White, pp. 314-315, fig. 138
(3)
Baker, pp. 213-215, fig. 77A
(4)
Beal, pp. 26-28, plate 3
(5)
Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, 1990. Entomology Circular No.332. Pine Reproduction Weevils, Hylobius pales (Herbst) & Pachylobius picivorus (Germar) (
PDF)
Internet References
Forestry Images--genus Hylobius
USDA Leaflet--very detailed on life history, economic aspects
Contributed by
Cotinis on 27 August, 2004 - 8:14pm
Last updated 25 September, 2008 - 9:23am
