Turbott's weevil (Anagotus turbotti) is a weevil that is endemic to New Zealand. It has been found on the Hen and Chicken Islands, the Poor Knights Islands and the Three Kings Islands.
| Turbott's weevil | |
|---|---|
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| Anagotus turbotti seen in the Poor Knights Islands | |
Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Coleoptera |
| Family: | Curculionidae |
| Genus: | Anagotus |
| Species: | A. turbotti
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| Binomial name | |
| Anagotus turbotti (Spiller, 1942)
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| Synonyms | |
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Taxonomy
editNew Zealand entomologist Donald Spiller first described this species in 1942, originally named as Phaeophanus turbotti. The description was based on two specimens collected by E. G. Turbott from the Poor Knights Islands in November 1940,[1] leading the weevil to be named in honour of its collector.[1] Turbott's weevil was recombined into the genus Anagotus in 1982 by Guillermo Kuschel.[2]
Description
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Turbott's weevil is one of the largest and most colourful of New Zealand's endemic weevils.[3] This species is flightless and ranges in length from 18-25mm. It has conspicuous white markings and obvious tubercles.[4]
Life cycle
editThe larvae of Turbott's weevils are wood borers and have been discovered in several different tree species. However they are most commonly found in ngaio and karaka trees.[3]
Distribution and habitat
editThe locality from which the type specimen of this species was collected is the island of Aorangi.[1] As well as the Poor Knights Islands, Turbott's weevil can also be found on the Three Kings Islands and on Muriwhenua of the Hen and Chicken Islands.[3][4] Adult beetles have been collected from Myoporum laetum and Corynocarpus laevigatus.[5]
Behaviour
editAdult weevils are active both day and night and have been observed consuming the leaves of the ngaio tree.[3]
Predation
editThe Turbott's weevil is prone to rat predation.[3] This is due to it being large and slow moving. The extinction of its sister species, Anagotus stephenensis from the mainland was probably due to rat predation. The Turbott's weevil was probably more widespread historically, but is now only found on predator-free islands.[4]
Conservation status and efforts
editIn September 2006 the Department of Conservation translocated 30 Turbott's weevils from Muriwhenua Island to Lady Alice Island, a predator free Island also in the Hen and Chicken Islands group. This was done in the hope that they would become established on that Island. To assist with their establishment the weevils were placed inside cages situated in West Bay containing tree species the weevils are known to consume.[6]
Turbott's weevil are protected under Schedule 7 of The 1953 Wildlife Act, making it an offense to hunt, kill or possess a specimen.[7]
References
edit- ^ a b c Spiller, D. (1942). "A Giant Weevil Phaeophanus turbotti n. sp. From the Poor Knights Islands". Records of the Auckland Institute and Museum. 2: 265–267. ISSN 0067-0464. JSTOR 42905988. Wikidata Q58676618.
- ^ Kuschel, G. (September 1982). "Apionidae and Curculionidae (Coleoptera) from the Poor Knights Islands, New Zealand". Journal of the Royal Society of New Zealand. 12 (3): 273–282. doi:10.1080/03036758.1982.10415349. ISSN 0303-6758. Wikidata Q54578100.
- ^ a b c d e Meads, Mike (1990). Forgotten fauna : the rare, endangered, and protected invertebrates of New Zealand. Wellington: DSIR. ISBN 0477025900. Retrieved 25 December 2015.
- ^ a b c Marris, John (2001). Beetles of Conservation Interest from the Three Kings Islands. Northland: Department of Conservation. p. 14. hdl:10182/2996.
- ^ Kuschel, G.; Worthy, T. H. (1996). "Past distribution of large weevils (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) in the South Island, New Zealand, based on Holocene fossil remains" (PDF). New Zealand Entomologist. 19: 16. doi:10.1080/00779962.1996.9722016. Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 January 2016. Retrieved 23 December 2015.
- ^ "Reintroduction Projects in New Zealand". Massey University. Massey University. Retrieved 25 December 2015.
- ^ "Wildlife Act 1953". New Zealand Legislation. Parliamentary Counsel Office. Retrieved 27 November 2016.
External links
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