Species Araecerus fasciculatus - Coffee Bean Weevil

Nutmeg Weevil

Araecerus coffeae (Fabricius) [see Valentine (2005)]

Araecerus fasciculatus (DeGeer 1775)

3.0–4.3 mm(1)

tibiae with three pale rings is diagnostic

worldwide - Map(2) in tropical/subtropical regions (both in the field and in storage) and in temperate regions (unable to overwinter outside heated facilities)(1); in our area, established in se. US (NC-FL-TX): "Since the genus centers in southeast Asia, I can not be certain of its potential for spread in the US. What appear to be established populations occur from NC to FL to TX; and I've seen specimens from MA to BC. It can and does show up almost anywhere, carried by commerce." (Barry Valentine, pers.comm., 14.vii.2009)

Has attacked developing oranges in Lake Co., FL, causing premature fruit drop. In New Orleans, extremely abundant in and around coffee bean warehouses. In Orange Co., CA, it attacked the live branches of apple trees. In Louisiana, it breeds and overwinters in corn stubble left after harvesting. It has even been reared from strychnine beans.(3)

I reared two generations on fresh oranges - the larvae eating the rind. It is a generalist on (usually) dried plant materials. (Barry Valentine, pers.comm., 14.vii.2009)

Childers C.C., Woodruff R.E. (1980) A bibliography of the coffee bean weevil Araecerus fasciculatus (Coleoptera: Anthribidae). Bull. Ent. Soc. Am. 26: 384-394.

Valentine B.D. (2005) The scientific name of the coffee bean weevil and some additional bibliography (Coleoptera: Anthribidae: Araecerus Schönherr). Insecta Mundi 19: 247-253. (Full text) (4)