Cionus hortulanus is a species of weevils belonging to the family Curculionidae, subfamily Curculioninae.[1][2]
Cionus hortulanus | |
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Cionus hortulanus. Dorsal view | |
Side view | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Arthropoda |
Class: | Insecta |
Order: | Coleoptera |
Family: | Curculionidae |
Genus: | Cionus |
Species: | C. hortulanus
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Binomial name | |
Cionus hortulanus (Fourcroy, 1785)
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Etymology
editThe genus name Cionus derives from the Greek kíonos, meaning column, with reference to the shape of the snout. The Latin species name hortulanus means garden warden.[3]
Distribution and habitat
editThis species is present in most of Europe,[4] in NW Africa, the Caucasus, Asia Minor, Iran, Siberia, Central Asia and India.[5] These beetles mainly inhabit meadows and hedge rows.[6]
Description
editCionus hortulanus can reach a length of 3–4.6 millimetres (0.12–0.18 in).[6] These tiny beetles have a short, oblong and convex body, a conical thorax and a long thin rostrum. Thorax and elytra are covered with grey scales.
The basic body color is grey-brown, with one large velvety black spot in the middle of the elytra and a smaller one at the apex. The elytra bears four raised lines with a series of black markings. The antennae are reddish.[7]
Biology
editAdults of these beetles can be found from June to September.[6] They feed on leaves of Buddleja and Verbascum species, while larvae feed on Water Figwort (Scrophularia auriculata), Common Figwort (Scrophularia nodosa)[6] and Great Mullein (Verbascum thapsus).[8][9] Females lay eggs on leaves of the host plants.
References
edit- ^ Biolib
- ^ Invertebrated Online
- ^ Kerbtier – Beetle Fauna of Germany
- ^ Fauna europaea
- ^ Maksims Balalaikins Latvian Curculioninae (Coleoptera: Curculionidae): 1. Tribe Cionini Schoenherr, 1825
- ^ a b c d Commanster
- ^ Sharp, W. E. Common beetles of the British uplands
- ^ Bio Info
- ^ Bullock, J.A., 1992 Host Plants of British Beetles: A List of Recorded Associations
- Media related to Cionus hortulanus at Wikimedia Commons
- Data related to Cionus hortulanus at Wikispecies