This is the longest weevil in the world, and is from the family Brentidae. GIRAFFE WEEVIL Family: Attelabidae (Leaf-Rolling Weevils) Habitat: Forests in Madagascar Fun Fact: It is the longest weevil in the world due to the elongated shape of its head. This species was described by the Danish entomologist Johan Christian Fabricius in 1775, from specimens collected by Joseph Banks in 1769 on Cook's first voyage to New Zealand, presumably from Ship Cove in Queen Charlotte Sound. [1], They are New Zealand's longest native beetle,[3] and the longest brentid weevil in the world. 1. All weevils have distinct heads or snouts, but the giraffe beetle is a champion among them with a head and neck that make up half of its body length. 4.4m members in the NatureIsFuckingLit community. [14] Small males (under 30 mm) are less able to compete with large males, and often retreat rather than fight. Other: Another beetle with a similar name is the New Zealand giraffe weevil, Lasiorynchus barbicornis. The giraffe weevil lives in Madagascar, and has a long extended neck like a giraffe. Their long neck replicates a giraffe, which is an outcome of their name. ; The total body length of the males is just under an inch (2.5 cm). The giraffe-necked weevil (male shown here) can be found only in certain habitat on the island of Madagascar. [9] Body size increases the further south the weevils live, but male rostra get proportionately less long with increasing latitude. [6] Their larvae inhabit at least 17 species of native trees, including lacebark, pigeonwood, rewarewa, tawa, pukatea and rimu, but are especially common on karaka and mahoe. [10] When suddenly disturbed, they will drop backwards off a tree trunk and lie in the leaf litter, playing dead, for up to an hour. Giraffe weevil of the weevil family is endemic to the Madagascar region. [7] They vary enormously in size, from 15–90 mm total length in males and 12–50 mm in females. This species was only discovered in 2008, so not a lot is known about them yet! The Bug Army is a collection of bugs and insects, collect all to unlock a special creature. Bonus! Forget the wide-eyed lemurs, grotesquely overweight trees and miniature chameleons who could live a full and eventful life clinging to a perm, the real majesty of Madagascar is in its Giraffe Weevils. Mitochondrial DNA suggests that during the Pleistocene ice ages giraffe weevils were only found in the remnant forests of Northland, and have expanded southward during this current interglacial. Once the egg hatches the little larvae will have a nice vegetarian meal as … L. barbicornis is occasionally accused of not being a weevil at all,[3][4] but it fact it is in the family Brentidae, the straight-snouted weevils, as opposed to the much larger family Curculionidae or "true" weevils; brentids lack the distinctive elbowed antennae that characterise curculionid weevils. It is distributed across the North Island and in the northwestern regions of the South Island (Kuschel 2003). Giraffe Habitat. [18] Adults emerge between October and March; their peak abundance is in February. [19] Sometimes the tunnel is too narrow, and the adults perish with their rostrum protruding. The giraffe weevil, Trachelophorus giraffa, of Madagascar is a very unique looking beetle.Both the male and female look similar with absurdly long black necks and red bodies. [8], These weevils display extreme sexual dimorphism; males have an elongated rostrum or snout with antennae at the tip, which they use as a weapon for fighting over females. The giraffe weevil (Trachelophorus giraffa) is a weevil endemic to Madagascar. Their distribution includes several parts of the continent but in a very fragmented way. Giraffes can inhabit savannas, grasslands or open woodlands. Fusion: Red + Tallest The giraffe weevil, Lasiorhynchus barbicornis (Fabricius, 1775), (Coleoptera: Brentidae) is endemic, and is the only member of the Brentidae present in New Zealand. The Giraffe Weevil will use their neck to roll up a portion of a leaf on their host plant. Giraffe weevils cannot bite or sting and, therefore, are not dangerous to humans. There are more than 60,000 species of Weevil in the world, the most famous ones being those who use their long snout to bore into plants or dry foods like nuts and flour. The neck of the male giraffe weevil is typically 2 to 3 times longer than that of the female. Habitat/Diet. occurs throughout Aotearoa / New Zealand; at up to 80 mm is the longest of our beetles; Giraffe Weevil; Rhynchophorus Ferrugineus; Wheat Weevil; Vine Weevil; Rice Weevil; Boll Weevil; Weevil Characteristics. L. barbicornis is the only member of the Brentinae (a tropical subfamily) in New Zealand, and its closest relatives are in Sulawesi, Australia, Vanuatu, and Fiji. [13], Fighting frequently occurs if a single male comes across a mating pair: the single male will attempt to dislodge the mating male by raking his mandibles across the back of his rival, or grasping his opponent's leg with his mandibles (this is possibly the reason some males have missing leg sections. [18] During the pupal stage, the weevil's rostrum is doubled underneath the body, but it straightens when the adult beetle emerges and eats its way out of the tree, leaving a square tunnel. This rare beetle was discovered relatively recently in 1980 though the IUCN does not enlist it in its endangered species list. Giraffe weevils are common in the North Island, and, although rarer, are found in the northwestern South Island as far south as Greymouth. The life cycle of the giraffe-necked weevil is the same as for other beetles. Māori name: pēpeke nguturoa, tuwhaipapa, tuwhaitara English name: giraffe weevil Scientific name: Lasiorhynchus barbicornis (Fabricius) order = Coleoptera; family = Brentidae. [6][1], Giraffe weevils have a distinctive elongated head, and reddish-brown markings on their elytra. She, on the other hand, uses her smaller neck to roll a leaf tube nest into which a single egg is layed. The giraffe-necked weevil (male shown here) can be found only in certain habitat on the island of Madagascar. The neck of the male is three times longer than that of a female, making its total body length approximately 1 inch. His specimens are now in the Banks Collection of the Natural History Museum, London, and the Fabricius Collection in the Natural History Museum of Denmark.[2]. The neck of the male is generally 2 to 3-times longer than the females. Due to these varied mating tactics, mating success is independent of male size. I guess he was right, and this time we found 2 on the same tree, and I suspected there are more since there's a lot of leaves curled as nests for it.. It is part of the Bug Army collection. [1] The beetle's Māori names include pepeke nguturoa ("long-beaked beetle": ngutu roa is another name for kiwi[5]), tūwhaipapa, and tūwhaitara, the latter two after the Māori god of newly made canoes, because its canoe-like body and upturned rostrum resemble a waka and prow. This species was only discovered in 2008, so not a lot is known about them yet. The hardened forewings (elytra) and the hind wings are clearly visible on this female. [13], Giraffe weevils are common in the North Island, and, although rarer, are found in the northwestern South Island as far south as Greymouth. [13] When finished, she lays a single egg in the hole, which is then refilled with sawdust and hidden with bark fragments. Male giraffe weevils use this long rostrum to battle over females, although small males can avoid conflict and 'sneak' in to mate with females, sometimes under the noses of large males. )[13] The fight then escalates to grappling, where the males engage side by side and try to push each other off the tree with their rostra. They are herbivorous, feeding on the leaves of that tree. We are here to appreciate the awesome majesty and incredibly cool aspects … The giraffe weevil (Trachelophorus giraffa) is a form of beetle native to Madagascar, only recently discovered in 2008.The only other known giraffe weevil is found in New Zealand. The total body length of the males is just under 2.5 cm. [17], L. barbicornis larvae live at least two years. The female will then lay a single egg inside of the newly created leaf tube before snipping the tube away from the rest of the leaf. Females will roll a leaf up and lay a single egg inside the tube, snipping it off to fall onto the forest floor. Madagascar Travel Aliens Bug Off A Bug's Life Beautiful Bugs Bugs And Insects Cute Animal Pictures Macro Photography Habitats. The larval weevils tunnel into wood for at least two years before emerging, and live for only a few weeks as adults. [10] Dissections of larvae show they feed on fungus growing in the larval tunnels, not the wood itself. Weevil Winner: These insects are a type of beetle called weevils. Due to the shape of their heads, weevils are commonly known as snout beetles. Species and subspecies have similar habitats that include savannas, grasslands, and open forests. Scientific Name: Giraffa camelopardalis Common Name(s): Nubian giraffe, reticulated giraffe, Angolan giraffe, Kordofan giraffe, Masai giraffe, South African giraffe, West African giraffe, Rhodesian giraffe, and Rothschild's giraffe Basic Animal Group: Mammal Size: 16–20 feet Weight: 1,600–3,000 pounds Lifespan: 20–30 years Diet: Herbivore Habitat: Woodland and savanna Africa ... Weevil Habitat. Giraffes are native to Africa, especially the sub-Saharan regions. Giraffes prefer areas enriched with acacia growth (a genus of shrubs and trees). Andrew Clark/Contributed Photo 628 votes, 35 comments. [15] They can also find success by mating while the larger males are distracted by fighting; these 'sneaking' males will flatten themselves alongside or underneath females in order to avoid detection by a larger male. Males have a longer neck than the females. In males the elongated snout (or rostrum) can be nearly as long as the body. They are the only weevils in the world with a visible scutellum. [8] This wide variation in body size, particularly in the length of the male rostrum, may be in response to changing environmental conditions from year to year. Picture is a more creative/artistic take on the giraffe weevil.Picture taken in october 2016 Endemic to Madagascar. [1] One has been recorded from the Hollyford Valley in Fiordland. The giraffe weevil (Trachelophorus giraffa) is a weevil endemic to Madagascar. Giraffe-Necked Weevil Facts | Madagascar Wildlife Guide This herbivorous beetle, Trachelophorus giraffa , derives its name from its extremely long neck, reminiscent of that of a giraffe . Giraffe weevils cannot bite or sting and, therefore, are not dangerous to humans. Black male giraffe weevil in its natural habitat, the rainforest of Madagascar. [1] It is the only member of the genus Lasiorhynchus. Male giraffe beetles are the … Sketch in a book from 1883 (Insects abroad by Wood) This is what they look like when they begin to fly: Watch this BBC clip from episode 1 of Sir David Attenborough’s Madagascar. The female giraffe weevil has a shorter rostrum with antennae about halfway along, which allows her to bite egg-laying holes in tree trunks without damaging her antennae. One has been recorded from the Hollyford Valley in Fiordland. [13][15] Small males, though, will readily fight with smaller or equal-sized males. The male's neck is up to two times longer than the females and it very impressive to look at. [12] The hole is usually 0.5 mm wide, 3–4 mm deep, and at a 45° angle to the trunk of the tree. [15][16], Because female giraffe weevils can mate multiple times before they lay their eggs, sperm competition is likely to be an important factor in determining which males get to reproduce. The majority numbers of weevils are of brown or gray in color but only few like diamond beetle are brightly colored. Invertebrates Zone of the Sculpture Learning Plaza, South American Tropical Rainforest & Aviary, Gardens of the Fisher Family Children's Zoo. Lasiorhynchus means "densely hairy rostrum"; barbicornis ("bearded horn") refers to the dense black backward-directed beard underneath the male's rostrum, or possibly to its hairy antennae. Reproductive behaviour of New Zealand giraffe weevils discussed on RadioNZ, This page was last edited on 16 December 2020, at 00:17. The giraffe weevil is New Zealand’s longest weevil. These and several other families are part of the superfamily of all weevils, Curculionoidea. The elytra fold down onto the back, covering the larger hind wings, which are used for flying. They show no aggression towards … On my outing with Kurt, he mentioned that a particular tree is a favourite nesting place for this Giraffe Weevil or as macro enthusiasts called "Gee Wee".. Most giraffes live either in East Africa or in Angola and Zambia in southwestern Africa. The giraffe weevil is sexually dimorphic, with the neck of the male typically being 2 to 3 times the length of that of the female. It derives its name from an extended neck, much like that of a giraffe.The giraffe weevil is sexually dimorphic, with the neck of the male typically being 2 to 3 times the length of that of the female.Most of the body is black with distinctive red elytra covering the flying wings. Common Name: Giraffe Weevil Scientific Name: Trachelophorus giraffa Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Arthropoda Class: Insecta Order: Coleoptera Family: Attelabidae Museum ID Number: 1.2 99-232 Image Number: ROM2009_10666_42 Giraffe Weevil Facts. When beetles want to fly, they raise the … Saved by Lauren Zarate. [20] Adult giraffe weevils generally only live for a few weeks, although one male was recorded as living at least 29 days. They can use this extended neck to fight for the right to mate with a female. Giraffe Weevil is a Fusion of Ladybug and Giraffe. The giraffe weevil has evolved its extended neck to fight for the right to a nearby female (which will patiently await the outcome of the fight and even occasionally act as a kind of referee before procreating with the winner). Giraffe Habitat and Distribution. [21] Mitochondrial DNA suggests that during the Pleistocene ice ages giraffe weevils were only found in the remnant forests of Northland, and have expanded southward during this current interglacial. [1][2] Fabricius described the smaller females as a different species, Curculio assimilis, but suspected they were the males of what he named Curculio barbicornis (later moved to its own genus, Lasiorhynchus). [12] The whole process takes around 30 minutes. Giraffe weevils are generally thought to be rare and cryptic and [10], For the unrelated giraffe weevil found in Madagascar, see, "New Zealand Curculionoidea from Captain Cook's voyages (Coleoptera)", "Exaggerated Trait Allometry, Compensation and Trade-Offs in the New Zealand Giraffe Weevil (, "Exaggerated rostra as weapons and the competitive assessment strategy of male giraffe weevils", "Flexible alternative mating tactics by New Zealand giraffe weevils", "Male giraffe weevils battle it out for female's affections", "Phylogeography of the New Zealand giraffe weevil Lasiorhynchus barbicornis (Coleoptera: Brentidae): a comparison of biogeographic boundaries", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=New_Zealand_giraffe_weevil&oldid=994492619, Short description is different from Wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, Male and female New Zealand giraffe weevil, New Zealand giraffe weevils discussed on RadioNZ. The curious-looking giraffe weevil (Trachelophorus giraffa) gets its name from its enormously long neck, which is 2-3 times longer in the males. Madagascar’s Giraffe Weevil is not only a fascinating-looking, bright-red-winged rainforest beetle that uses its extended neck to battle for a mate, but it also has the strength to bend and roll up a large leaf to protect its egg. All in the Family. Giraffes will move to where they need to to find food. [6][11] The female bores a narrow hole with her mandibles into the trunk, pulling her head out every half-millimetre to clear away sawdust. The New Zealand giraffe weevil, Lasiorhynchus barbicornis, is a distinctive straight-snouted weevil in the subfamily Brentinae, endemic to New Zealand. Links are provided. L. barbicornis is New Zealand's longest beetle, and shows extreme sexual dimorphism: males measure up to 90 mm, and females 50 mm, although there is an extreme range of body sizes in both sexes. During this time the male mates with and guards her, and helps her disengage with the hole if she gets stuck. Found this weevil on the same tree which I have shot it before. Giraffe weevils live in forests, spending almost their entire lives on a tree known as the “giraffe beetle tree”. Giraffe weevils live in forests, spending almost their entire lives on a tree known as the “giraffe beetle tree”. One of the most famous, but also most bizarre bugs of Madagascar can be found in the eastern rainforests of the islands: Due to its longs neck, it is called giraffe necked weevil (Trachelophorus giraffa).The best time and places to find it are the national parks of Andasibe-Mantadia, Marojejy and Ranomafana in spring.. Male giraffe weevils’ necks are 2-3 times the size of females’, which most likely aid them in nest building and competition. [6], Giraffe weevils are mostly active by day, sheltering in the canopy at night, and feed on sap. 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