Gardenbane Weevil
Ellimenistes laesicollis
Because its hardened forewings are fused shut, this weevil cannot fly and relies entirely on walking to disperse between host plants.
- Scientific name
- Ellimenistes laesicollis
- Taxonomy
- Animalia › Arthropoda › Insecta › Coleoptera › Curculionidae › Ellimenistes
- IUCN Red List status
- Least Concern
- Population trend
- stable
- Biome
- grassland
- Habitat
- Cultivated gardens, citrus orchards, vineyards, and indigenous southern African scrub and grassland edges
- Diet
- Herbivorous, chewing the foliage and tender bark of citrus, fruit trees, roses, and various native shrubs as adults, while larvae feed on roots underground
- Range
- South Africa, Eswatini
- Size
- 4–6 mm
- Lifespan
- 1–2 yr
- Active
- nocturnal
- Threats
- Application of broad-spectrum agricultural pesticides and loss of indigenous host plants
- Safe to approach?
- The gardenbane weevil is completely harmless to humans and lacks venom, stingers, or mouthparts capable of piercing skin. If encountered in gardens or orchards, it can be gently picked up or brushed off without risk.
Photo: Tony Rebelo, CC-BY-SA, via iNaturalist
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