Botany Bay Diamond Weevil - Chrysolopus spectabilis
FAMILY CURCULIONIDAE
This page contains information and pictures about Botany Bay Diamond Weevils that we found in the Brisbane area, Queensland, Australia
- Body length 25mm
- This weevil also known as Diamond Beetle. This weevil is famous in Australia natural
history because it was the first scientifically described Australian insect
species.
- It is not too difficult to found them in Karawatha Forest during summer season. We found those weevils always feeding alone on young Acacia tree.
- This weevil has beautiful metallic green dots patterns on black colour. The patterns are slightly different on individual. .
- The larvae feed on roots of Acacia.
- We found the weevil once on gum tree leaf, but not sure if it feed on gum leaf as well.
- When disturbed, the weevil dropped on the ground and play death. We put it on hand and it slowly walked back onto the leaves.
The host plants
-
Wattle
- Acacia sp.
- Reference:
- 1. Insects of Australia, CSIRO, Division of Entomology, Melbourne University Press, 2nd Edition 1991, p 678.
- 2. Insects of Australia and New Zealand - R. J. Tillyard, Angus & Robertson, Ltd, Sydney, 1926, p228.
- 3. Beetles of Australia - Trevor J Hawkeswood, Angus & Robertson Publishers, 1987, p118.
- 4. Australian Weevils - Zimmerman, E.C., CSIRO PUBLISHING, 1991, Plate 348.
