rose curculio

(Merhynchites bicolor)

Conservation Status
rose curculio
Photo by Alfredo Colon
  IUCN Red List

not listed

 
  NatureServe

NNR - Unranked

 
  Minnesota

not listed

 
           
           
           
           
           
           
           
 
Description
 
 

Rose curculio is a small, 3 16 to ¼ long, hard-bodied, bud weevil.

The forward segment of the body (prothorax) is much narrower than the base of the hardened wing covers (elytra). The upper plate covering the prothorax (pronotum) and elytra are both red and are covered with short, fine, erect hairs. The rest of the body is black.

The back of the head is red, the eyes and the rest of the head are black. The snout is elongated, much longer than the head, and downward curved. The antennae are straight, clubbed, and inserted partway down the snout.

The legs are black and are covered with short, fine, erect hairs.

 
     
 

Size

 
 

Total length: 3 16 to ¼

 
     
 

Similar Species

 
     
     
 
Habitat
 
 

 

 
     
 
Biology
 
 

Season

 
 

Late May to early July

 
     
 

Behavior

 
 

Adults are found on the flowers of host species.

 
     
 

Life Cycle

 
 

The larvae develop in the hips of host species.

 
     
 

Larva Food

 
 

Fruits (hips) of various wild rose species.

 
     
 

Adult Food

 
 

Buds of various wild and cultivated rose species.

 
     
 
Distribution
 
 

Distribution Map

 

Sources

24, 27, 29, 30, 82.

 
  10/21/2022      
         
 

Occurrence

 
 

 

 
         
 
Taxonomy
 
 

Order

Coleoptera (beetles)  
 

Suborder

Polyphaga (water, rove, scarab, long-horned, leaf, and snout beetles)  
 

Infraorder

Cucujiformia  
 

Superfamily

Curculionoidea (snout and bark beetles)  
 

Family

Attelabidae (leaf-rolling weevils)  
 

Subfamily

Rhynchitinae (leaf and bud weevils)  
  Tribe Rhynchitini  
 

Genus

Merhynchites (rose weevils)  
       
 

This species was formerly assigned to the genus Rhynchites.

 
       
 

Synonyms

 
 

Rhynchites bicolor

 
       
 

Common Names

 
 

rose curculio

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Glossary

Elytra

The hardened or leathery forewings of beetles used to protect the fragile hindwings, which are used for flying. Singular: elytron.

 

Pronotum

The exoskeletal plate on the upper side of the first segment of the thorax of an insect.

 

Prothorax

The first (forward) segment of the thorax on an insect, bearing the first pair of legs but not wings.

 

 

 

 

 

 
 
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Alfredo Colon

 
    rose curculio   rose curculio  
           
    rose curculio      
           
 
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  Alfredo Colon
6/4/2021

Location: Woodbury, MN

rose curculio  
  Alfredo Colon
6/5/2018

Location: Woodbury, MN

rose curculio  
           
 
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