Lixus pulverulentus

Lixus pulverulentus is a species of weevil belonging to the family Curculionidae. It is commonly known as the elongated bean weevil. The species was scientifically described in 1763 by Giovanni Antonio Scopoli as Curculio pulverulentus Scopoli, 1763.

Lixus pulverulentus
Lixus pulverulentus
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Coleoptera
Suborder:	Polyphaga
Infraorder:	Cucujiformia
Family:	Curculionidae
Genus:	Lixus
Species:	L. pulverulentus
Binomial name
Lixus pulverulentus (Scopoli, 1763)
Synonyms[1][2]
List Curculio angustatu s Fabricius, 1775 Lixus angustatus ( Fabricius, 1775) Lixus hungarus Petri, 1905 Lixus kolenati Hochhuth, 1847 Lixus lefebvrei Boheman, 1835 Curculio pulvereus Olivier, 1790 Lixus subangustatus Motschulsky, 1849 Lixus algirus ( Linnaeus)

Distribution

This widespread, but quite rare species can be found in southern and central Europe (including the Iberian Peninsula), from Iran to Asia Minor and in the Mediterranean Basin, including North Africa and the Middle East^[1][3][4]

Hastings Country Park produced the last British records of this species and it is now considered to no longer breed in Britain.^[5]

Description

Lixus pulverulentus can reach a body length of about 10.5–17.5 mm (0.41–0.69 in). These rather long weevils have a narrow, elongated body. The conically shaped pronotum is hardly granular. They are dusted yellowish to brownish.^[6][7]

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Biology

The beetles appear in April. They are mainly seen in May and June. Larvae of these polyphagous beetles mainly develop in the stems of Malvaceae, Asteraceae, and Fabaceae (Alcea rosea, Malva pusilla, Malva sylvestris. Malva thuringiaca.Cirsium arvense, Cirsium palustre, Cirsium serrulatum, Carduus acanthoides, Silybum marianum, Centaurea nigra, Onopordum acanthium, Vicia faba, etc.)^[2][7] Pupation also takes place in the stems. The beetles hibernate in the dried stems or in the soil.^[8]