Polydrusus formosus
| Polydrusus sericeus | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Subphylum: | Hexapoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Coleoptera |
| Family: | Curculionidae |
| Subfamily: | Entiminae |
| Tribe: | Polydrusini |
| Genus: | Polydrusus |
| Species: | P. sericeus |
| Binomial name | |
| Polydrusus sericeus (Mayer, 1779) | |
| Synonyms | |
| |
Polydrusus sericeus is a species of broad-nosed weevils belonging to the family Curculionidae, subfamily Entiminae.
This beetle is present in most of Europe and in Nearctic ecozone.
Description
The colour of this insect is brilliant green, as the black body is coated in emerald scales.
The soil-inhabiting larvae grow up to 7 millimetres (0.28 in) long feeding on juicy plant roots. In Autumn their development is complete. They overwinter and pupate in Spring.
The adults grow up to 5–6 millimetres (0.20–0.24 in) long and can mostly be encountered from April through August. Adults of this beetle lay their eggs in the bark or leaves of the host-plants.
They are eaters of young leaves and open blossoms of a wide variety of woodland trees and shrubs (Corylus avellana, Quercus species, etc.), but also fruit trees (apple, pear, cherry, etc.) and hazelnut. They are considered a pest of fruit trees, causing extensive damages to their buds, blossoms and shoots.
References
- Helden, A. 2005, Polydrusus (Chrysophis) formosus (Mayer, 1779) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae): a weevil new to Ireland, Irish Naturalists' Journal, 28
- A. G. Duff (2008). "Checklist of Beetles of the British Isles" (PDF). The Coleopterist. http://coleopterist.org.uk/checklist2008%20A5.pdf. Retrieved August 13, 2010
- David V. Alford – Pests of fruit crops – Academic Press