Larinus planus
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Larinus planus | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Coleoptera |
| Suborder: | Polyphaga |
| Infraorder: | Cucujiformia |
| Family: | Curculionidae |
| Genus: | Larinus |
| Species: | L. planus |
| Binomial name | |
| Larinus planus (Fabricius, 1792) | |
Larinus planus is an insect of the Curculionidae ("true" weevil) family. They are oval shaped, dark brown or black, and about 5–10 millimetres (3⁄16–3⁄8 in) long.[1] While native to Europe, it is also common in North America. It feeds on floral buds, primarily of thistles, with the larvae stage being the most destructive to them. In North America, it has been used as a biocontrol agent.[2] It is also known as Larinus carlinae.[3][4]
The adult weevil is mostly dark brown or black, but has red-brown antennae. It is about 5–10 millimetres (3⁄16–3⁄8 in) long and oval shaped. The wing covers have light colored mottled hairs on them and appear pock-marked. The nose is long and narrow, with a pronounced curvature.[5][6]
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The eggs are black and appear the size of a "pin-prick." Once hatched, the larva has a segmented white body with a brown head, and is C-shaped.[1]
Distribution
This weevil is indigenous to southwest England, as well as Central and Eastern Europe.[5][1]
It was accidentally introduced to Canada and the United States in the 1960s. The first published record is from Maryland in 1971.[7] It is now widespread throughout North America.