Homalinotus coriaceus

Homalinotus coriaceus
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Coleoptera
Suborder:	Polyphaga
Infraorder:	Cucujiformia
Family:	Curculionidae
Genus:	Homalinotus
Species:	H. coriaceus
Binomial name
Homalinotus coriaceus Gyllenhal, 1836

H. coriaceus feeding on the floral peduncle

Homalinotus coriaceus, the black coconut bunch weevil, is a species of weevil belonging to the family Curculionidae. This species can be found in Brazil. ^[1] This beetle is a pest species that feeds on cultivated coconuts. ^[2]

Ecology

Due to the damage H. coriaceus can inflict on coconut trees, it is considered a major pest in Brazil. Larvae will tunnel into the peduncles of the coconut tree, feeding on sap. ^[3] Likewise, adults will often damage the flowers and fruit tissues. ^[4] Since both life stages of H. coriaceus promote the death of the coconut tree, it has been estimated to have reduced coconut production in Brazil by 50%. ^[5]

Morphology

Black coconut bunch weevils are black and range between 25 and 30 millimetres (0.98 and 1.18 in) long with a rostrum of approximately 8 millimetres (0.31 in), ^{[6] [7]} the mature larvae are white, curved, bigger than the adult-beetle with 40 to 50 millimetres (1.6 to 2.0 in) in length and display a rust-tinted head. ^[8] The eggs laid on the floral peduncle are white, smooth, and elongated. ^[7] This species has little to no sexual dimorphism, where females are a bit larger than males and have two subtle indentations on the pronotum. ^[8]

References

1. "Homalinotus coriaceus L.Gyllenhal, 1836". www.gbif.org. Retrieved 2023-09-08.
2. Sarro, Fernanda B.; Crocomo, Wilson B.; Ferreira, Joana M. S. (2004). "Aspectos da biologia e morfologia da broca do pedúnculo floral do coqueiro, Homalinotus coriaceus (Gyllenhal) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)". Neotropical Entomology (in Portuguese). 33: 7–12. doi: 10.1590/S1519-566X2004000100003 . hdl: 11449/5815 . ISSN   1519-566X.
3. Lima, Maria do Livramento Ferreira; Ferreira, Ubirany Lopes (2021), "Estudo Comportamental de Linhagens de Metarhizium Em Diferentes Meios de Cultura", Manejo sustentável de pragas e doenças agrícolas, Atena Editora, pp. 9–17, doi: 10.22533/at.ed.4052109082 , ISBN   978-65-5983-340-5, S2CID   243447422
4. Ferreira Neto, Miguel (2005). Doses de N e K aplicadas via fertirrigação na cultura do coqueiro (Cocos nucifera L. ) anão (Thesis). Universidade de Sao Paulo, Agencia USP de Gestao da Informacao Academica (AGUIA). doi: 10.11606/t.11.2005.tde-02082005-130934 .
5. Oliveira, Ivan Tadeu Gomes de (2021). "Guia de relações multiespécies na Baía de Florianópolis - SC". Cadernos de Campo (São Paulo - 1991) (in Portuguese). 30 (1) e179745. doi: 10.11606/issn.2316-9133.v30i1pe179745 . ISSN   2316-9133. S2CID   238847257.
6. Michereff, Mirian Fernandes Furtado; Vilela, Evaldo Ferreira; Michereff Filho, Miguel; Mafra-Neto, Agenor (2000). "Uso do feromônio sexual sintético para captura de machos da traça-das-crucíferas". Pesquisa Agropecuária Brasileira (in Portuguese). 35 (10): 1919–1926. doi: 10.1590/s0100-204x2000001000002 . ISSN   0100-204X.
7. Giustolin, Teresinha Augusta; Vendramim, José Djair; Postali Parra, José Roberto (2002). "Número de ínstares larvais de Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) em genótipos de tomateiro". Scientia Agricola (in Portuguese). 59 (2): 393–396. doi: 10.1590/s0103-90162002000200028 . ISSN   0103-9016.
8. Mendonça, Gerbson Azevedo de (2020). Polinização entomófila do coqueiro (>i<Cocos nucifera>/i< L.) (Thesis). Universidade de Sao Paulo, Agencia USP de Gestao da Informacao Academica (AGUIA). doi: 10.11606/t.11.2020.tde-20200111-132157 .