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Beetles of Zihuatanejo

ORDER COLEOPTERA

Conotrachelus Weevils
Conotrachelus (Genus)

-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)dea)

-​True Weevils (Family Curculionidae)

-Subfamily Molytinae

-Tribe Conotrachelini

-Genus Conotrachelus


The Conotrachelus genus belongs to the Curculionidae family of weevils, with members commonly referred to as "fruit weevils". They are known for their impact on fruit trees. They have a robust, oval-shaped body with a distinctive, short, and curved snout or rostrum. Larvae develop within fruit or other plant tissues, where they feed and create tunnels as they grow.

Diet

  • Larvae: Feed internally within developing fruits, seeds, nuts, buds, and other plant tissues. Many species are closely associated with particular host plants.

  • Adults: Feed on buds, flowers, young shoots, leaves, fruit, and bark of their host plants.

  • Hosts include many native and cultivated trees, including members of the Rosaceae, Fagaceae, Lauraceae, Anacardiaceae, and other plant families.

Range

  • The genus Conotrachelus is primarily New World, distributed from Canada and the United States through Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean, and South America.

  • Mexico has a very large diversity of Conotrachelus species, particularly in tropical and subtropical forests.

  • Numerous species occur in Guerrero and elsewhere along the Pacific coast.

Habitat

  • Found in tropical dry forests, tropical rainforests, woodland edges, orchards, plantations, gardens, and agricultural landscapes.

  • Adults occur on host trees and shrubs, while larvae are concealed within fruits, seeds, nuts, or woody tissues.

  • Many species are strongly associated with particular host plants.

Size

  • Adult length: approximately 3–15 mm (0.12–0.6 in), depending on species.

  • Body robust and often pear-shaped, with a distinct curved snout (rostrum) and elbowed antennae.

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