Observations on zygopine weevil behaviour (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Zygopinae)

Abstract

Observations on the behaviour and chosen environment are reported of the zygopine weevils Mecopus audinetii, M. bispinosus, M. fausti, M. pulvereus, Phylaitis v-alba and Osphilia sp. Mecopus audinetii and M. bispinosus were not distinguished in the field, but can be separated by details of the male and female genitalia and by the presence in the male of M. bispinosus of long black hairs on the pronotum. All the species studied were found on the bark of fallen or dying trees, the Mecopus species and Phylaitis v-alba being associated with whitish-silvery bark and the Osphilia species with greenish-brown substrates. The small Phylaitis species was found on branches of smaller diameter than those frequented by the larger Mecopus species. All the species are fairly cryptic in coloration, but when moving the larger species are more visible than the smaller, and the ones on pale bark are more visible than those on greenish-brown bark. Potential predators may be confused by jerky movement patterns observed in all species and the distant shadows cast by the long-legged larger Mecopus. The weevils are not believed to be involved in any mimicry, although this has been suggested for other members of the same subfamily. A single contest between males of Mecopus audinetii/bispinosus was observed, in the absence of a female. Each male attempted to dislodge its opponent from the substrate using its rostrum; the thoracic spines were not seen to be used. Contests between males of Osphilia sp. and Phylaitis v-alba were observed in the presence of females of the appropriate species. The males of Osphilia species attempted to dislodge one another from the back of the female in contention, and also engaged in a spiralling flight together. The males of Phylaitis v-alba did not come into physical contact, but responded to the threat of an approach. During copulation in Mecopus audinetii/bispinosus and Osphilia sp. the male repeatedly brushed the head and thorax of the female with his front legs. In the first species the male stood on the substrate and ‘caged’ the female with his legs and rostrum but in the second the male, ‘rode’ the female. Both species oviposit into the bark of their trees, the females using the rostrum to drill a hole for the ovipositor. The length of the rostrum probably determines the thickness of the bark through which eggs are laid, and hence the area of the region of the tree inhabited by the beetles.