''Polydrusus formosus'' is a species of broad-nosed weevil belonging to the family
Curculionidae, subfamily
Entiminae
The Entiminae are a large subfamily in the weevil family Curculionidae, containing most of the short-nosed weevils, including such genera as '' Entimus'', '' Otiorhynchus'', '' Phyllobius'', '' Sitona'', and '' Pachyrrhynchus''. In comparison ...
.
Distribution
This beetle is present in most of
Europe
Europe is a large peninsula conventionally considered a continent in its own right because of its great physical size and the weight of its history and traditions. Europe is also considered a subcontinent of Eurasia and it is located enti ...
and in the
Nearctic realm.
Description
The adults grow up to long. The colour of this insect is brilliant metallic green, as the black body is coated in emerald round scales. If the scales wear off the body beneath appears dark. Antennae are pale with a dark club. These beetles show a short groove between the eyes and evident striae on the elytra.
[Nature Spot]
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Biology
Adults can mostly be encountered from April through August.[ These beetles lay their eggs in the bark or leaves of the host-plants. The soil-inhabiting larvae grow up to long feeding on juicy plant roots. In Autumn their development is complete. They overwinter and pupate in Spring.
The adults are eaters of young leaves and open blossoms of a wide variety of woodland trees and shrubs ('']Corylus avellana
''Corylus avellana'', the common hazel, is a species of flowering plant in the birch family Betulaceae. It is native to Europe and western Asia. It is an important component of the hedgerows that were the traditional field boundaries in lowland En ...
'', ''Quercus
An oak is a tree or shrub in the genus ''Quercus'' (; Latin "oak tree") of the beech family, Fagaceae. There are approximately 500 extant species of oaks. The common name "oak" also appears in the names of species in related genera, notably ' ...
'' species, etc.), but also fruit trees (apple, pear, cherry, etc.) They are considered a pest of fruit trees, causing extensive damages to their buds, blossoms and shoots.[D. V. Alfor]
Pests of Fruit Crops: A Color Handbook
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Bibliography
* Helden, A. 2005, Polydrusus (Chrysophis) formosus (Mayer, 1779) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae): a weevil new to Ireland, Irish Naturalists' Journal, 28
* A. G. Duff (2008). "Checklist of Beetles of the British Isles" (PDF). The Coleopterist. https://web.archive.org/web/20110705155707/http://www.coleopterist.org.uk/checklist2008%20A5.pdf. Retrieved August 13, 2010
* David V. Alford – Pests of fruit crops – Academic Press
References
External links
Bug Guide
{{Taxonbar, from=Q7226300
Entiminae
Beetles of Europe
Beetles described in 1779