''Scolopterus penicillatus'', also known as the black spined weevil, is an
endemic
Endemism is the state of a species being found only in a single defined geographic location, such as an island, state, nation, country or other defined zone; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also foun ...
beetle of
New Zealand
New Zealand () is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the South Island ()—and List of islands of New Zealand, over 600 smaller islands. It is the List of isla ...
.
Physical description
In appearance it is a shining black colour with a purplish tinge and looks very similar to its close relative ''
Scolopterus tetracanthus''. ''S. penicillatus'' can be distinguished from ''S. tetracanthus'' as the spines on the shoulders of the former are much less pointed.
Distribution and habitat
The beetle is present throughout New Zealand and can be discovered by beating native flowering plants in the summer months.
Adult black spined weevils have been collected from ''
Hedychium gardnerianum''
and caught in the flowers of ''
Helichrysum lanceolatum''. The larvae of ''S. penicillatus'' are known to develop in the recently dead bark of the various species of ''
Pseudopanax
''Pseudopanax'' (Latin for "false ginseng") is a genus of seven species of evergreen plants that are endemic to New Zealand. Flowers of the genus occur in terminal umbels.
Taxonomy
A 2000 molecular study established that several species within ...
''.
R A Crowson of Glasgow University spent some time in New Zealand in 1956 and 1957 during which period he found larvae associated with pupae and teneral adults under the bark of a dead branch of a
Nothopanax. The larvae were found at
Parahaki and
Nelson
Nelson may refer to:
Arts and entertainment
* ''Nelson'' (1918 film), a historical film directed by Maurice Elvey
* ''Nelson'' (1926 film), a historical film directed by Walter Summers
* ''Nelson'' (opera), an opera by Lennox Berkeley to a lib ...
and were later identified by him and Sir
G. A. K. Marshall as Scolopterus penicillatus White.
References
External links
* ''Scolopterus penicillatus'' discussed on
RNZ ''
Critter of the Week
''Critter of the Week'' is a weekly RNZ National programme about endangered and neglected native plants and animals of New Zealand.
Beginning in 2015, ''Critter of the Week'' is an approximately 15-minute discussion between Nicola Toki (origi ...
''
24 March 2023''Scolopterus penicillatus''at CitSciHub
Beetles described in 1846
Endemic beetles of New Zealand
Curculioninae
{{Curculioninae-stub