Chrome Bug
This was taken while on a Ficus hedge in Florida today. It appears to be some type of borer as it stays on the tender stems of new leaves. Got any ideas? This was my second sighting while shooting Macro shots for fun.
Chris

Hi Chris,
When a specimen of Eurhinus magnificus was sent to us in April 2005, it created quite a stir. This Central American Metallic Weevil originates in Costa Rica, Panama and Southern Mexico, but was introduced to Florida. Probably as a result of global warming, the tropical species has expanded its range northward. We wonder if ficus is the host plant.

Metallic Weevil, Eurhinus magnificus
Thanks for the confirmation.
Both sightings have been on the tenderest portion of a ficus plant. Attached is a better image of the beast. I’ll keep my eyes open for them on other plants. Attached is a bit better image of the Weevil. I have good shots from about 5 angles if you want them.
Chris

Thanks Chris,
The subtle movement of the antennae is a nice addition.

Dear bugman-
I saw the picture of Eurhinus magnificus and your question about Ficus being its host. If the Ficus hedge is the ubiquitous Ficus benjamina, it is native to Asia and Australia. This would make me think that the hedge is not a natural host for the weevil. It may be opportunistic or just hanging out. Also- It is far more likely that the beast was brought into Florida through trade from its native range rather than a natural expansion. This happens in Florida over and over and over… Hope this is useful.
Jimi

Update: 17 June 2009, 7:27 AM
In trying to identify an unusual Weevil from Costa Rica today, we stumbled upon this great link with the life cycle of Eurhinus magnificus.

Can You help
What is this fellow please…..He was on the south coast of NSW on a headland in amongst Banksia, grasses, ferns and she oak on Burri Point near Batemans Bay. Thanks,
Warren Feakes

Hi Warren,
This is a Weevil, a type of Beetle. The markings resemble those of a Botany Bay Weevil, though in your photo they appear white and not pale blue. It might be a color variation, or just an inaccurate rendition of the photographic image, or possibly a different species.

yellow weevil from cyprus- genus lixus-
Hi there. I wanted to let you know that i found one of these on my rose bush two days ago. I have never seen one before, but as I find weevils very fetching with their enormous noses and beady eyes, I took a photo. It ate a whole rose leaf before it disappeared but was there all day. Are they actually native to another country, eg, Cyprus as seen on your website. We are in a severe drought here, and I thought it may have come to the garden where a few things still have green leaves. cheers,
Jenny Davis

Hi Jenny,
There are over 35,000 species of Weevils worldwide, making the family Curculionidae the largest on the planet. Your letter is unclear if you are from Cypress, or if you think your Weevil looks like the one from Cypress. It does possess the yellow powdery bloom that Eric Eaton describes for the genus Lixus.

Kiwi-like bug
Hello,
My name is Matthew Frias, I am a 16 year old high school senior. I would like to ask for your help with identifying a strange bug. Today, I came across a strange looking bug that had a striking resemblance to the kiwi bird (well, to me at least) I have never seen this bug before in my life. I found this bug sitting on my nightstand in my room. It walks very slowly and has the ability to fly. The long apendage coming from its head seem like it is used to feed on sugar food (flowers perhaps?) I tested this by giving it a bit of sugar-water. It doesn’t seem to be dangerous since i’ve picked it up before. Also, the apendage coming out of its head seems to have two antenae attatched to it. They come out a little less than half-way from the face. I have attached a sample picture of the bug. If you need more samples I have other pictures at different angles. Yet I feel this is one of the best angles I could get with my camera. Thank you very much.
Matthew Frias,
Alhambra CA

Hi Matthew,
This is an Acorn Weevil in the genus Curculio. The California Acorn Weevil is Curculio uniformis, but we cannot quickly locate an image nor the range. That species is still our best bet.

A weevil looking beetle with horny back
Hi. I looked through all your beetles and I think this one must be a "gorgojo" a type of Weevil from the family Curculionidae. I found it on my wheelie bin in the back yard. Atherton, Queensland, Australia, in the middle of the day. If you ever have time, can you let me know for sure. I see them from time to time. Pretty darn cute ( but I still don’t want to touch it!) Thanks, much appreciated,
susan.

Hi Susan,
This is a Weevil, but we do not know the species.

Black Beetle with Red Markings – ???
Dear Bugman:
I found this large (1.25 inches long) beetle floating in my Florida swimming pool this morning. I dipped him out with the pool net and laid the net down in the shade of some hibiscus bushes, measured and photographed the beetle. I left it there in the shady quiet to dry off, and eventually it must have departed. Can you tell me what it was?
Thank you,
Ann K.

Hi Ann,
This is a Palmetto Weevil, Rhynchophorus cruentatus.

Update from David Gracer, edible insect specialist (05/25/2006)
www.slshrimp.com
Palmetto Weevil: Rhynchophorus cruentatus
Rhynchophorus weevils: the ULTIMATE in yummy! This is the North American representative of possibly the most treasured edible insect of all. The larvae of R. cruentatus and R. palmarum were/are eaten throughout much of the New World, and other members of the genus are among the most sought-after foods in some societies. R. ferrugineus, better known as the Sago Grub, is eaten in Papua New Guinea; some people have gone there just to eat them. Yet this species, which feed on palm trees, has become introduced into many countries, from the Middle East (where it’s a serious threat to culturally-important date palms) all the way west to Spain. Most Americans, though, would probably feel that the grubs look totally disgusting. There’s a picture of them on my website. Due to its status as a premium delicacy, there is a slightly larger body of lore for these weevil grubs than for most other edible insects. Here is a report from the Caribbean: Provancher (1890) visited several Caribbean islands in 1888 and related the following (as translated by Starr [1993]): While in Port of Spain, Trinidad in May 1888, we stopped by Laventille [now a poor section of the city] one morning in the company of some Dominican fathers.. Walking along a street that skirts the hill, we came upon a black man splitting a wooden log with his hatchet, and near him a little girl holding a teacup. ‘This man is looking for palm grubs,’ one of the fathers told us. ‘Let us stop a moment if you would like to see them.’ On approaching, we saw that the log was in fact the trunk of a palm, probably a coconut palm. It was about four or five feet long and in an advanced state of decomposition. Every blow of the hatchet exposed seven or eight big, very plump grubs, each about three inches long, which the little girl was eagerly gathering into the cup. These larvae were truly handsome animals, of a lovely yellowish white and with six dainty feet near the front end. ‘And do the black people eat these grubs?’ we asked. ‘Oh no,’ we were told, ‘this food is too precious for the poor. They collect them for sale to the English gourmets, who relish them.’ ‘What price do they fetch?’ ‘A small cup such as you see there usually goes for a ‘gourde’, $1.’ We estimated that this trunk would furnish at least two such cups of grubs. These grubs are . . . [the larva of a curculionid beetle, Calandra palmarum Fabr.]. Of course “Calandra” is nothing more than an archaic classification name for Rhynchophorus. As you might imagine, the amount of money discussed would represent a great sum to those doing the gathering. This account is powerful evidence for the argument that Europeans (and, therefore, even Americans) can quickly learn to love eating insects. One of these days I will have the opportunity to eat Rhynchophorus grubs.