The Beetle with the Neckiest Neck: The Giraffe Weevil
- HYUN SIM
- 3 hours ago
- 2 min read
The Giraffe Weevil (Trachelophorus giraffa) is a species of weevil from the Brentidae family,
which is a group of weevils often called primitive weevils (San Francisco Zoo). Their bodies are black with a bright-red elytra. The quirkiest part of this beetle, however, is its long neck. The long neck is an example of sexual dimorphism because the necks of the males are 2-3 times longer than the females' (San Francisco Zoo).
The Giraffe Weevil has a very unique habitat and diet. Its most common habitat is the
branches and leaves of a specific species of tree found in the rainforests of Madagascar.
Sometimes called the "Giraffe Weevil Tree," Dichaetanthera Arborea is the primary habitat of the Giraffe Weevil (San Francisco Zoo). The Weevil will spend its entire life cycle in the foliage of this tree.
The female uses the leaves of the tree to create a nest for a single egg. After the egg is laid, the female will cut the leaf and let it fall to the rainforest floor. Once the egg hatches, the larva can safely feed on the leaf on which it was laid (San Francisco Zoo). After eating enough, the larva will pupate and, after some time, emerge as an adult. The cycle repeats when the mating season comes around again. The male Giraffe Weevil will use its long neck to attract mates and fend off other males attempting to breed with its claimed mate. It attracts mates through a display of its long neck by swaying it side to side in a pattern (iNaturalist).
Discovered in 2008 (San Francisco Zoo), there is little known about the Giraffe Weevil, but it is worthwhile to attempt further research into its behavior, lifecycle, and anatomy. Endemic to Madagascar's rainforests, the Giraffe Weevil could play a much more crucial part in the ecosystem's biodiversity than is known. Anyone could discover something new and unprecedented, something that could change the world. The unknowns about the Giraffe Weevil could bring about a much greater change than anyone could anticipate.
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