Eucalyptus snout beetle facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Gonipterus gibberus
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Coleoptera
Family:	Curculionidae
Subfamily:	Curculioninae
Tribe:	Gonipterini
Genus:	Gonipterus
Species:	G. gibberus
Binomial name
Gonipterus gibberus Boisduval, 1835
Synonyms
Dacnirotatus bruchi Marelli

The eucalyptus snout beetle (scientific name: Gonipterus gibberus) is a type of weevil. Weevils are small beetles, and this one belongs to the family called Curculionidae. You might also hear it called the eucalyptus weevil or the gum tree weevil. This beetle loves to eat and lay its eggs on Eucalyptus trees. It originally comes from Australia, meaning it's found naturally only there.

What Does It Look Like?

This weevil is mostly greyish-brown. It has a light-colored band across its body. It grows to be about thirteen millimeters long, which is a little over half an inch. It looks very similar to another weevil called Gonipterus scutellatus. Both share the same common names.

The young weevils, called larvae, look different. They are yellowish-green with dark spots. They do not have green stripes on their bellies. This helps tell them apart from the larvae of G. scutellatus.

Where Does It Live?

The eucalyptus snout beetle is native to Australia. This is where Eucalyptus trees naturally grow. However, this weevil has spread to other parts of the world. It can now be found in South America. This includes countries like Argentina and Uruguay. It is also in some states in Brazil.

The weevil likely traveled to these new places in two ways. It might have come as eggs or larvae on Eucalyptus plants. It could also have been carried in soil.

What Does It Eat?

The eucalyptus snout beetle only eats Eucalyptus trees. These trees are its only "host plants." This means the weevil needs Eucalyptus trees to survive.

Some types of Eucalyptus trees are more likely to be attacked by this weevil. These include:

• Eucalyptus camaldulensis
• Eucalyptus globulus
• Eucalyptus maidenii
• Eucalyptus punctata
• Eucalyptus robusta
• Eucalyptus smithii
• Eucalyptus viminalis

Life Cycle and Reproduction

Adult female eucalyptus snout beetles lay their eggs over about three months. Each female can lay around two hundred eggs. They lay these eggs in groups of about ten. The eggs are inside grey-colored capsules. These capsules are stuck to the leaves of Eucalyptus trees.

The eggs hatch after about one week. The tiny larvae then start to eat the leaves and young shoots. The larvae grow and shed their skin three times. This process is called moulting. After their last moult, the larvae move to the ground. They either crawl or fall off the tree. They then dig a few centimeters under the soil. This is where they change into pupae.

The entire life cycle, from egg to adult, takes about seven to eleven weeks. The speed of their growth depends on the temperature. In warmer places like Mauritius, they can have about four generations each year. This means they breed all year long. In cooler places like South Africa, they usually have two generations. The adult weevils spend the winter months resting.

Why Is It Important?

In Australia, the eucalyptus snout beetle does not cause many problems. This is because it has natural enemies there. These natural enemies are other insects or animals that eat the weevil. They help keep the weevil's population in check.

However, in other countries, Eucalyptus trees were brought in from Australia. The weevil's natural enemies were not brought along. So, the weevil can cause more damage in these places.

Adult weevils mostly eat the leaves of Eucalyptus trees. They also eat the soft bark of young twigs. The larvae mostly eat the leaves. If there are many weevils, they can eat a lot of leaves. This can cause the tips of the shoots to die. When this happens, the tree might grow new shoots from its trunk or branches. These are called "epicormic shoots." If the trees lose their leaves many times, branches can break or even the whole tree can die.