Rhynchophorus bilineatus

Rhynchophorus bilineatus
Rhynchophorus bilineatus from New Guinea
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Coleoptera
Family: Curculionidae
Genus: Rhynchophorus
Species: R. bilineatus
Binomial name
Rhynchophorus bilineatus
(Montrouzier, 1857)
Synonyms
  • Calandra bilineata Montrouzier, 1857
  • Rhynchophorus kaupii Schaufuss, 1864,
  • Rhynchophorus montrouzieri Chevrolat, 1882
  • Rhynchophorus pascha var. papuanus Kirsch, 1877
  • Rhynchophorus rubrocinctus Chevrolat, 1882
  • Rhynchophorus velutinus Fairmaire, 1877
  • Sphenophorus palmarum Montrouzier, 1860

Rhynchophorus bilineatus, common name Black Palm Weevil, is a species of beetles belonging to the family Curculionidae.

Description

Rhynchophorus bilineatus can reach a body length of about 40mm. These large beetles are considered a major pest in palm plantations, mainly in Cocos nucifera, Metroxylon sagu and Metroxylon solomonense.

In fact the adults lay eggs in wounds in the stems of palms. After hatching, the weevil larvae excavate tunnels in the trunk and feed on the tissues, frequently leading to the death the host plants.

Distribution

This species can be found in Moluccas, Papua New Guinea and Solomon islands.

References

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