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 | |
Anagotus fairburni, commonly known as the Flax weevil, 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]
Due to predation by mammals, it is restricted to rodent-free offshore islands in modern times.[3]
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". The Weta 4: 13.
- ↑ Brookes, Albert E. (1932). "A new genus and six new species of coleoptera". Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute 63: 25.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Marris, J. "Beetles of Conservation Interest from the Three Kings Islands".