Participatory science, epidemiological surveillance, Tools
Weevils
It is true that weevils do not always walk on the surface of the soil since they move from one plant to another,
but it is not uncommon to find some of their representatives in a trap pot
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Classification (systematic position)
Animal Kingdom |
Morphological characteristics
Insect beetles with an elongated and rounded body in 3 parts (head, thorax, abdomen), head extended forward (more or less long snout depending on the species), 3 pairs of legs, 1 pair of bent antennae (minimum at 90 degrees) inserted on the snout, 2 pairs of wings including the elytra (leather wings characteristic of beetles) completely covering the abdomen. Weevils' elytra are sometimes glued together, making it difficult to fly. Weevil larvae are white with an elongated, thick, slightly curved body and have no legs.
Life cycle
Most species lay their eggs in plant tissues. A female can lay up to a hundred eggs. At birth, the larva feeds on the plant before transforming into a nymph and then into an adult in a few months. Some larvae are also found in the soil.
Diet
Weevils are all phytophagous (feed on different organs of living plants: buds, leaves, etc.). The majority of weevils have a different diet in the larval and adult stages. For example, the adult hazelnut weevil ( Curculio nucum ) feeds on the pollen and nectar of hawthorn flowers and eats the buds and leaves of a wide variety of trees while its larva eats the pulp of hazelnuts or oak acorns by digging into the shell on the ground.
Natural predators or regulators
Weevils are the prey of birds.
Habitats
Weevils live in forests, meadows and gardens. The larvae are often found in the soil.
Interests in the garden
Weevils can reduce populations of weed species.
Did you know ?
When weevils are threatened they may pretend to be dead by falling to the ground and folding their legs.
Polydrosus mollis females are able to reproduce without males by parthenogenesis.