Species Cylas formicarius - Sweet Potato Weevil

Classification · Other Common Names · Size · Identification · Range · Food · Life Cycle · Remarks · Print References · Internet References · Works Cited

Cylas formicarius (Fabricius) - Cylas formicarius

Classification

Kingdom Animalia (Animals)

Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)

Class Insecta (Insects)

Order Coleoptera (Beetles)

Suborder Polyphaga (Water, Rove, Scarab, Longhorn, Leaf and Snout Beetles)

Superfamily Curculionoidea (Snout and Bark Beetles)

Family Brentidae (Straight-snouted Weevils)

Subfamily Cyladinae

Genus Cylas

Species formicarius (Sweet Potato Weevil)

Other Common Names

Sweet potato borer (larva)

Size

5-6 mm

Identification

Elongated, smooth, and shiny. Beak twice as long as head. Reddish pronotum, etc., with elytra blue-black, head and beak dusky (1).

Range

Worldwide (mostly tropical and subtropical). Introduced in North America, where found from South Carolina to Florida, west to Texas (2).

Food

Sweet Potato

Life Cycle

Larvae bore in sweet potatoes. Tiny white eggs are laid in punctures made in vines near ground, or even in stored potatoes. Larvae burrow in and feed for 2-3 weeks, then pupate in a burrow (2). Also attacks morning-glories and some Asteraceae.

Remarks

This is considered the subspecies Cylas formicarius elegantulus (Summers).

Print References

Dillon, pp. 751-752, plate 76 (1)

Papp, pp. 261-262, fig. 867 (2)

Internet References

Just Google it - lots of information available.

Works Cited

1.	A Manual of Common Beetles of Eastern North America By Dillon, Elizabeth S., and Dillon, Lawrence

2.	Introduction to North American Beetles By Charles S. Papp

Contributed by Phillip Harpootlian on 27 July, 2006 - 7:10am
Additional contributions by cotinis
Last updated 27 July, 2006 - 9:06am

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