Flax weevil
| Flax weevil | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Coleoptera |
| Family: | Curculionidae |
| Subfamily: | Cyclominae |
| Tribe: | Aterpini |
| Genus: | Anagotus |
| Species: | A. fairburni |
| Binomial name | |
| Anagotus fairburni Brookes, 1932 | |
The flax weevil (Anagotus fairburni) is a large flightless weevil.[1] It was discovered by E. Fairburn in 1931 on D'Urville Island.[2] The weevil is known to live on New Zealand flax (Phormium tenax), feeding on leaves, where it produces a characteristic feeding notch. The weevil is a large, nocturnal, flightless weevil ranging in length from 20 to 25mm.[3]
Although considered a coastal species, the flax weevil has been found in the Tararua Range on Phormium cookianum, a mountain flax. It is possible that other remnant populations survive in other mountain ranges.[4] However, due to predation by mammals, it is likely restricted to rodent-free offshore islands in more modern times.[3]
The eggs of the flax weevil can take 3 - 5 weeks to hatch. How long a weevil spends as a larva or pupa is unknown but adult flax weevils have lived for over 12 months in captivity.[4]
References
- ↑ Watt, J. Charles (1981). "Notes on the Distribution. Abundance. Ecology and Status of Insects Included in the First Schedule of the Wildlife Amemdment Act. 1980" (PDF). The Weta. 4: 13.
- ↑ Brookes, Albert E. (1932). "A new genus and six new species of coleoptera" (PDF). Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute. 63: 25–33. Retrieved 25 December 2015.
- 1 2 Marris, J. "Beetles of Conservation Interest from the Three Kings Islands".
- 1 2 Meads, Mike (1990). Forgotten fauna : the rare, endangered, and protected invertebrates of New Zealand. Wellington: DSIR Pub. p. 42. ISBN 0477025900.
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