Lixus pulverulentus

Lixus pulverulentus
Lixus pulverulentus
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Coleoptera
Family: Curculionidae
Genus: Lixus
Species:
L. pulverulentus
Binomial name
Lixus pulverulentus
(Scopoli, 1763)
Synonyms[1][2]
List
  • Curculio angustatu s Fabricius, 1775
  • Lixus angustatus ( Fabricius, 1775)
  • Lixus hungarus Petri, 1905
  • Lixus kolenati Hochhuth, 1847
  • Lixus lefebvrei Boheman, 1835
  • Curculio pulvereus Olivier, 1790
  • Lixus subangustatus Motschulsky, 1849
  • Lixus algirus ( Linnaeus)

Lixus pulverulentus is a species of weevil belonging to the family Curculionidae. The species was scientifically described in 1763 by Giovanni Antonio Scopoli as Curculio pulverulentus Scopoli, 1763.

Distribution

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This widespread, but quite rare species can be found in southern and central Europe (including the Iberian Peninsula), from Iran to Asia Minor and in the Mediterranean Basin, including North Africa and the Middle East[1][3][4]

Hastings Country Park produced the last British records of this species and it is now considered to no longer breed in Britain.[5]

Description

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Lixus pulverulentus can reach a body length of about 10.5–17.5 mm (0.41–0.69 in). These rather long weevils have a narrow, elongated body. The conically shaped pronotum is hardly granular. They are dusted yellowish to brownish.[6][7]


Biology

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The beetles appear in April. They are mainly seen in May and June. Larvae of these polyphagous beetles mainly develop in the stems of Malvaceae, Asteraceae, and Fabaceae (Alcea rosea, Malva pusilla, Malva sylvestris. Malva thuringiaca.Cirsium arvense, Cirsium palustre, Cirsium serrulatum, Carduus acanthoides, Silybum marianum, Centaurea nigra, Onopordum acanthium, Vicia faba, etc.)[2][7] Pupation also takes place in the stems. The beetles hibernate in the dried stems or in the soil.[8]

References

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  1. ^ a b Fauna Europaea
  2. ^ a b Biolib
  3. ^ Lixus angustatus June 2009
  4. ^ "Illustrated Up-to-date Catalogue of the Curculionoidea-Fauna of Cyprus". Archived from the original on 2014-05-02. Retrieved 2010-10-27.
  5. ^ Biodiversity of Hastings Country Park Nature Reserve
  6. ^ "Virtual Zoo - Lixus angustatus". Archived from the original on 2013-12-02. Retrieved 2013-11-28.
  7. ^ a b Kafer Europas (in German)
  8. ^ Plant Parasites of Europe