Identification, Images, & Information
For Insects, Spiders & Their Kin
For the United States & Canada

Species Neochetina bruchi - Chevroned Waterhyacinth Weevil

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Classification
Kingdom Animalia (Animals)
Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Subphylum Hexapoda (Hexapods)
Class Insecta (Insects)
Order Coleoptera (Beetles)
Suborder Polyphaga
No Taxon (Series Cucujiformia)
Superfamily Curculionoidea
Family Brachyceridae
Subfamily Erirhininae (Marsh Weevils)
Subtribe Stenopelmina
Genus Neochetina (Waterhyacinth Weevils)
Species bruchi (Chevroned Waterhyacinth Weevil)
Explanation of Names
Neochetina bruchi Hustache 1926
Size
♂ 3.5-4.5 mm, ♀ 4.1-5.0 mm(1)
Range
introduced into the se US (e.TX-FL-SC) & CA - Map (2)
Habitat
coastal habitats
Food
host: Water Hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes, Pontederiaceae)(3)
Life Cycle
Eggs hatch in 7-17 days, depending on temperature. Three instars, larval stages take from 36 to 90 days; reports vary. Larvae feed and develop in the petioles. Fully grown larvae move to the water, build a cocoon and pupate near roots, from which they probably take oxygen. Adults are nocturnal. Females lay about 200 eggs.
Remarks
Introduced intentionally into FL in 1974 to combat Eichhornia crassipes; native to Argentina and bordering countries
Internet References