Cyrtotrachelus dux

Cyrtotrachelus dux
Museum specimen of Cyrtotrachelus dux
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Coleoptera
Family: Curculionidae
Subfamily: Dryophthorinae
Tribe: Rhynchophorini
Genus: Cyrtotrachelus
Species: C. dux
Binomial name
Cyrtotrachelus dux
Boheman in Schönherr, 1845
Synonyms

Cyrtotrachelus dux, the Bamboo beetle or Long Armed Snout Beetle, is a species of beetles belonging to the family Curculionidae.

Description

Cyrtotrachelus dux can reach a length of 18–38 millimetres (0.71–1.50 in). The basic color of the body ranges from light brown to dark reddish-brown. In the males the first pair of legs is very long. Larvae suck sap from tender bamboo shoots from May to October. These large beetles are considered a serious pest in bamboo plantation, frequently leading to the death the host plants. Nematodes are commonly used to control this pest. These weevils are edible and are usually consumed in fried form by various ethnic groups.

Distribution and habitat

This species is widespread in Asia, mainly in Bangladesh, China, Thailand, Myanmar, India and Sri Lanka. These giant weevils live in forests and plantations of bamboo.

References

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