top of page

Beetles of Zihuatanejo

ORDER COLEOPTERA

Chalcodermus Snout and Bark Weevils
Chalcodermus (Genus)

-Animals (Kingdom Animalia)

-Animals (Kingdom Animalia)

-Arthropods (Phylum Arthropoda)

-Hexapods (Subphylum Hexapoda)

-Insects (Class Insecta)

-Winged and Once-winged Insects (Subclass Pterygota)

-Beetles (Order Coleoptera​​)

-​Water, Rove, Scarab, Long-horned, Leaf, and Snout Beetles (Suborder Polyphaga)

-​Cucujiform Beetles (Infraorder Cucujiformia)

-Snout and Bark Beetles (Superfamily Curculionoidea)

-​True Weevils (Family Curculionidae)ellidae)

-Subfamily Molytinae

-Tribe Sternechini

-Genus Chalcodermus


The Chalcodermus genus belongs to the family Curculionidae (true weevils), subfamily Entiminae. These weevils are generally small to medium-sized and, like many other weevil species, exhibit specialized behavior related to their feeding and reproduction. The genus Chalcodermus is particularly known for its association with specific plants, often involving larvae that feed on plant tissues or seeds.

Diet

  • Larvae: Develop within seeds, pods, stems, and other plant tissues, with many species specializing on legumes (Fabaceae).

  • Adults: Feed on leaves, stems, flowers, and developing seed pods of their host plants.

  • Some species are important pests of beans, cowpeas, and other leguminous crops.

Range

  • The genus Chalcodermus is primarily Neotropical, occurring from the southern United States through Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean, and South America.

  • Numerous species occur in Mexico, including the Pacific coast and Guerrero.

  • Most species are associated with warm tropical and subtropical environments.

Habitat

  • Found in tropical dry forests, tropical rainforests, thorn scrub, grasslands, woodland edges, agricultural fields, gardens, and secondary vegetation.

  • Adults occur on the foliage, flowers, and seed pods of host plants.

  • Larvae develop concealed within plant tissues or seeds, where they are protected from many predators.

Size

  • Adult length: approximately 3–8 mm (0.12–0.3 in).

  • Body generally compact and robust, with a short, broad snout and a hard, often dark or metallic exoskeleton.

bottom of page