Species Coniatus splendidulus

Classification · Other Common Names · Explanation of Names · Size · Range · Habitat · Food · Life Cycle · Remarks

Splendid Tamarisk Weevil - Coniatus splendidulus

Splendid Tamarisk Weevil Larvae - Coniatus splendidulus

Splendid indeed! - Coniatus splendidulus

Curculionid on Tamarix - Coniatus splendidulus

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 Curculionidae (Snout and Bark Beetles)

Subfamily Hyperinae

Genus Coniatus

Species splendidulus (Coniatus splendidulus)

Other Common Names

Splendid Tamarisk Weevil

Explanation of Names

Coniatus (Bagoides) splendidulus (Fabricius 1781)

Size

~3 mm

Range

native to the Mediterranean, accidentally introduced in AZ (2006) and has spread across sw US (CA-TX-CO)

Habitat

Riparian Saltcedar groves

Food

host: Tamarix (Tamaricaceae)

Life Cycle

pupates in an open silk cage on a leaf/stem of the host

Remarks

"A hyperine weevil which was under consideration for release as a biocontrol agent against tamarisk. However the release was not authorized due to conflict of interest between ranchers who want the tree controlled and the conservationists (in this case birders) who want to protect the preferred nesting site of the yellow-bellied flycatcher. The USDA claims not to have released it from strict quarantine so it must have come in some other way. The tamarisk suck up the water to a great depth and kill off the other riparian trees, willow and cottonwoods for example, which are essential to the birds as they seek food among the latter. The problem is that the bird is endangered and prefers to nest in tamarisk which is not a natural community and which provides little food for the birds. It is a "Catch 22", but chance may have solved the dilemma." --C.W. O'Brien, pers. comm. to =v=

Contributed by margarethe brummermann on 28 October, 2009 - 6:15pm
Additional contributions by Beatriz Moisset, Mike Quinn, John Schneider, v belov
Last updated 24 July, 2023 - 2:23pm

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