Giraffe weevil of the weevil family is endemic to the Madagascar region. Their long neck replicates a giraffe, which is an outcome of their name. This rare beetle was discovered relatively recently in 1980 though the IUCN does not enlist it in its endangered species list.
Size: Males – 15 – 90 mm; Females – 12 – 50 mm
Color: It has a brown or black body with red elytra covering its wings.
Other Characteristic Features: One of their commonest features is their long neck, which is twice or thrice longer in males than in females.
The larva has a yellowish body and, upon hatching, feeds on the leaf that wrapped the eggs.
The pupal phase occurs within the foliage though no other detail about their description remains available.
The females lay their eggs within a rolled-up leaf and take great care to fold and roll it further, using their legs and neck to keep the egg intact.
| Other Names | Giraffe-necked weevil |
| Adult lifespan | About a week |
| Duration of larval stage | Not recorded |
| Distribution | Madagascar |
| Habitat | Forests, spending almost their entire life cycle on trees |
| Common Predators | Since rare, they are not threatened by humans or other animal predators |
| Seasons active from | Not recorded (because of their rarity) |
| Host Plants | Plants of the Melastomes family |
| Diet of larvae and adults | Leaves of their host plants |
To roll the leaves for keeping the eggs safe, the female Giraffe weevil beetle tears it into half and cuts it in a manner that the midribs become visible. The adults and larvae even feed on the leaves, causing more damage to the foliage.
Image Source: madamagazine.com, animalfunfacts.net, madamagazine.com, natureplprints.com, bugwoodcloud.org, earthlingnature.files.wordpress.com
Giraffe weevil of the weevil family is endemic to the Madagascar region. Their long neck replicates a giraffe, which is an outcome of their name. This rare beetle was discovered relatively recently in 1980 though the IUCN does not enlist it in its endangered species list.
Size: Males – 15 – 90 mm; Females – 12 – 50 mm
Color: It has a brown or black body with red elytra covering its wings.
Other Characteristic Features: One of their commonest features is their long neck, which is twice or thrice longer in males than in females.
The larva has a yellowish body and, upon hatching, feeds on the leaf that wrapped the eggs.
The pupal phase occurs within the foliage though no other detail about their description remains available.
The females lay their eggs within a rolled-up leaf and take great care to fold and roll it further, using their legs and neck to keep the egg intact.
| Other Names | Giraffe-necked weevil |
| Adult lifespan | About a week |
| Duration of larval stage | Not recorded |
| Distribution | Madagascar |
| Habitat | Forests, spending almost their entire life cycle on trees |
| Common Predators | Since rare, they are not threatened by humans or other animal predators |
| Seasons active from | Not recorded (because of their rarity) |
| Host Plants | Plants of the Melastomes family |
| Diet of larvae and adults | Leaves of their host plants |
To roll the leaves for keeping the eggs safe, the female Giraffe weevil beetle tears it into half and cuts it in a manner that the midribs become visible. The adults and larvae even feed on the leaves, causing more damage to the foliage.
Image Source: madamagazine.com, animalfunfacts.net, madamagazine.com, natureplprints.com, bugwoodcloud.org, earthlingnature.files.wordpress.com
