Apoderus coryli

Apoderus coryli
Apoderus coryli, dorsal view
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Coleoptera
Superfamily: Curculionoidea
Family: Attelabidae
Subfamily: Attelabinae
Genus: Apoderus
Species: A. coryli
Binomial name
Apoderus coryli
(Linnaeus 1758)
Synonyms
  • Attelabus coryli Linnaeus, 1758

Apoderus coryli, common name Hazel-leaf Roller Weevil, is a species of leaf-rolling beetles belonging to the family Attelabidae subfamily Attelaninae. Because of the trunk-like elongated head, it is often mistakenly attributed to the weevils.

Description

Apoderus coryli can reach a length of 6–8 millimetres (0.24–0.31 in). These primitive weevils have a red shiny bell-shaped pronotum, a shiny black or dark brown head with protruding eyes, a distinct neck and short and rounded elytra. Their straight antennae are inserted near the base of the rostrum. The prothorax is much narrower than the base of the elytra on the abdomen. The scutellum is broad, triangular to trapezoidal and without stripes. The legs are red at the base, black towards the end. Adults can be found between May and September. They feed on leaves of the host plant, the hazel (Corylus avellana), hence the Latin name coryli of the species, meaning hazelnut. Only in exceptional cases other deciduous trees, such as alder and birch, are used as host plants.

Behavior

The female cuts slits into leaves, lays her yellowish eggs on them and rolls up these leaves into cigar-shaped cylinders or ‘cradles’ for the developing larvae, that will feed and pupate in these the leaf wraps. The time of oviposition may take several weeks. Several cylinders per day are produced. The adult beetles will emerge in the summer. There are two generations per year. The larvae of the second generation overwinter in said cylinders.

Distribution

This species is widespread in most of Europe, in the East Palearctic ecozone and in the Near East.

Habitat

Apoderus coryli prefers deciduous forests where the host plant occurs, parks and gardens.

Gallery

References

    Wikispecies has information related to: Apoderus coryli