''Microlarinus lypriformis'' is a

weevil Weevils are beetles belonging to the Taxonomic rank, superfamily Curculionoidea, known for their elongated snouts. They are usually small, less than in length, and Herbivore, herbivorous. Approximately 97,000 species of weevils are known. They b ...

of the family

Curculionidae The Curculionidae are a family of weevils, commonly called snout beetles or true weevils. They are one of the largest animal families, with 6,800 genera and 83,000 species described worldwide. They are the sister group to the family Brentidae. T ...

. It lays eggs in the stems of the puncturevine, '' Tribulus terrestris'', and the larvae feed on the pith of the plant. After pupation, the adult emerges through holes bored in plant. Along with the seed-feeding ''

Microlarinus lareynii ''Microlarinus lareynii'', commonly known as puncturevine seed weevil, is a weevil of the family Curculionidae. It is native to interior regions of Italy, France and Rajasthan in India. Microlarinus lareynii feeds on the seeds of the punctur ...

'' it has been introduced as a

biological control agent Biological control or biocontrol is a method of controlling pests, such as insects, mites, weeds, and plant diseases, using other organisms. It relies on predation, parasitism, herbivory, or other natural mechanisms, but typically also invo ...

in the United States of America and Canada against ''Tribulus terrestris''.

References

Beetles described in 1861 Biological pest control beetles Insects used for control of invasive plants {{weevil-stub