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

Register · Log In
HomeGuideID RequestRecentFrassForumsDonateHelp
Clickable Guide
Moths Butterflies Flies Caterpillars Flies Dragonflies Flies Mantids Cockroaches Bees and Wasps Walkingsticks Earwigs Ants Termites Hoppers and Kin Hoppers and Kin Beetles True Bugs Fleas Grasshoppers and Kin Ticks Spiders Scorpions Centipedes Millipedes

Calendar
Upcoming Events

Photos of insects and people from the 2024 BugGuide gathering in Idaho July 24-27

Moth submissions from National Moth Week 2024

Photos of insects and people from the 2022 BugGuide gathering in New Mexico, July 20-24

Photos of insects and people from the Spring 2021 gathering in Louisiana, April 28-May 2

Photos of insects and people from the 2019 gathering in Louisiana, July 25-27

Photos of insects and people from the 2018 gathering in Virginia, July 27-29


Previous events
TaxonomyBrowse
Info
ImagesLinksBooksData
Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Hexapods (Hexapoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Beetles (Coleoptera) » Polyphaga » Series Cucujiformia » Curculionoidea » Snout and Bark Beetles (Curculionidae) » Dryophthorinae » Rhynchophorini » Sphenophorina » Bromeliad Weevils (Metamasius) » Metamasius hemipterus » Silky Cane Weevil (Metamasius hemipterus sericeus)

Subspecies Metamasius hemipterus sericeus - Silky Cane Weevil

Classification · Other Common Names · Explanation of Names · Size · Identification · Range · Season · Food · Life Cycle · Remarks · Internet References · Works Cited
Metamasius hemipterus Metamasius hemipterus sericeus - Metamasius hemipterus Metamasius - Metamasius hemipterus Metamasius hemipterus Metamasius hemipterus Metamasius hemipterus
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 Dryophthorinae
Tribe Rhynchophorini
Subtribe Sphenophorina
Genus Metamasius (Bromeliad Weevils)
Species hemipterus (Metamasius hemipterus)
Subspecies sericeus (Silky Cane Weevil)
Other Common Names
West Indian Cane Weevil, Palm and Sugarcane Weevil, West Indian Sugarcane Weevil
Explanation of Names
Metamasius hemipterus sericeus (Olivier)
sericeus = 'silky'
Size
9-14 mm[cite:185010]
Identification
pattern distinctive; Rhynchophorus cruentus is larger, with paler parts red (vs yellow/orange) and no M-shaped pattern on the pronotum
Range
adventive to peninsular FL - Map [cite:185010](1), a widespread neotropical species
Season
Year-round
Food
Bores through the trunks, canes or stalks of palms, bananas, sugar cane and other monocotyledonous woody or fleshy plants
Life Cycle
Grubs bore through the inside of the host plant, then pupate in a fibrous pupal case. Adults emerge from the plant and live for up to 60 days, looking for new hosts in which to lay their eggs.
Remarks
A serious pest of tropical ornamentals, sugar cane and bananas, though its biggest impact may be leaving the plants susceptible to the Palmetto Weevil (Rhynchophorus cruentus). Larvae are hidden inside the plant and may be spread through nursery stock.
earliest record in our area: FL 1984[cite:185010]

the population in Florida belongs to the form sericeus, which by a recent molecular study(2), deserves species rank
Internet References
Mexican bromeliad weevil - Barbra Larson and J. Howard Frank, University of Florida
Works Cited
1.Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF)
2.Phylogenetic assessment of the Metamasius hemipterus species complex (Coleoptera, Curculionidae, Dryophthorinae)
Palmieri L, Chamorro M, Sharma P. 2022. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 175: 107589.
Contributed by Chuck Entz on 15 February, 2006 - 7:06am
Additional contributions by Mike Quinn, Boris Bueche, v belov
Last updated 14 March, 2025 - 5:11pm

Disclaimer: Dedicated naturalists volunteer their time and resources here to provide this service. We strive to provide accurate information, but we are mostly just amateurs attempting to make sense of a diverse natural world. If you need expert professional advice, contact your local extension office.

Contributors own the copyright to and are solely responsible for contributed content.
Click the contributor's name for licensing and usage information.
Everything else copyright © 2003-2025 Iowa State University, unless otherwise noted.

Bugguide is hosted by:

Plant Pathology, Entomology and Microbiology at Iowa State University logo

Printer Friendly Version 		Terms of Use
Privacy Statement
Site Map
Contact