Hylobius transversovittatus
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Hylobius transversovittatus |
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| ( Goeze , 1777) |
The Hylobius transversovittatus is a beetle from the family of the weevils (Curculionidae). He specializes in life in and on the purple loosestrife . Widespread in Europe, it is also found in locations with low levels of purple loosestrife.
The weevil, which damages the purple loosestrife centrally by laying eggs and larvae development , was introduced into seven states of the USA in 1992 together with two leaf-eating beetles ( Galerucella calmariensis Linnaeus 1767, and Galerucella pusilla Duftschmid 1825) , approval by the US authorities ( USDA-APHIS) took place in June 1992. It was also introduced to Canada .
description
Hylobius transversovittatus is a 10 to 14 millimeter large, red-brown weevil. He can live to be at least two or three years old.
Way of life
The beetles appear from around mid-April, shortly after the purple loosestrife sprouts. They are mainly nocturnal, but can also sometimes be found on the plants in the early morning and evening and are active until around mid-September. They eat the leaves and young shoots of the purple loosestrife. Mating takes place around two weeks after their appearance, and the eggs are laid from the beginning of May. The females lay one egg each in the soil near the roots or directly in the trunk of the purple loosestrife. From the start of egg-laying to around September 100 to 200 eggs can be laid by the female.
The larvae hatch after about eleven days and eat their way into the root runners or through the trunk of the plant. They later eat their way into the central root, where they eat for one to two years and develop further. In the third larval stage, they pupate in the upper part of the root, new generations of beetles hatch from June to October.
literature
- Bernd Blossey: Biology, ecology, host specificity and impact of Galerucella calmariensis L, G. pusilla Duft. (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) and Hylobius transversovittatus Goeze (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) on their host plant Lythrum salicaria L. (purple loosestrife). Ph. D. Dissertation, University of Kiel 1991
