Trachelophorus giraffa Voss 1929

The giraffe weevil (Trachelophorus giraffa) is a weevil endemic to Madagascar. It derives its name from an extended neck much like that of the common giraffe. The giraffe weevil is sexually dimorphic, with the neck of the male typically being 2 to 3 times the length of that of the female. Most of the body is black with distinctive red elytra covering the flying wings. The total body length of the males is just under an inch (2.5 cm), among the longest for any Attelabid species. The extended neck is an adaptation that assists in nest building and fighting. When it comes time to breed, the mother-to-be will roll and secure a leaf of the host plant, Dichaetanthera cordifolia and Dichaetanthera arborea (a small tree in the family Melastomataceae), and then lay a single egg within the tube. She will then snip the roll from the remaining leaf in preparation of the egg hatching. Another beetle with a similar common name is the New Zealand giraffe weevil, Lasiorynchus barbicornis. This is the longest weevil in the world, and is from the family Brentidae. They are a newly found species so there is not much information about them.

The giraffe weevil is a weevil species endemic to the forests of Madagascar. It was discovered in 2008, hence little is known about it. As you have probably guessed, its named this way due to having an extended neck, much like giraffes do.
Giraffe weevil Description The giraffe weevil is sexually dimorphic, meaning that there is a great phenotypic difference between males and females of the same species. Specifically, males have a neck that is 2 to 3 times longer than their female counterparts. The extended neck is an adaptation that is used for intraspecific combat and nest building. Males have a length of almost an inch (2.5 cm), making them one of the longest Attelabidae species. Most of their body is black, except for their distinctive red elytra that cover their wings. The species is capable of flight. Giraffe weevil Diet They are herbivore insects, with adults feeding on a tree that is commonly known as the "giraffe beetle tree "(Dichaetanthera arborea). They spend most of their lives on these small trees, venturing far from them only on rare occasions. Giraffe weevil Reproduction Males use their long necks to fight with other males to win the right to mate with a nearby female. They use them as a weapon to push and wrestle with the opponent. The winner then mates with the female. The female then secures a leaf - from Dichaetanthera arborea - and uses it to build a cigar-like nest. To do so, she will fold and curl it multiple times. Then, she lays a single egg inside the leaf. Finally, she snips the leaf from the plant, which falls to the forest floor. The leaf will provides sustenance to the newly-hatched larvae during its first days of life. This leaf-rolling behaviour is not unique to the giraffe weevil, its something all Attelabidae species do and this is why they are commonly known as the leaf-rolling weevils. Giraffe weevil Interesting Facts - Despite their somewhat frightening appearance, they are not dangerous to humans - Lasiorynchus barbicornis is an unrelated species from New Zealand that is also called Giraffe weevil

The giraffe weevil is a weevil species endemic to the forests of Madagascar. It was discovered in 2008, hence little is known about it. As you have probably guessed, its named this way due to having an extended neck, much like giraffes do. Giraffe weevil Description The giraffe weevil is sexually dimorphic, meaning that there is a great phenotypic difference between males and females of the same species. Specifically, males have a neck that is 2 to 3 times longer than their female counterparts. The extended neck is an adaptation that is used for intraspecific combat and nest building. Males have a length of almost an inch (2.5 cm), making them one of the longest Attelabidae species. Most of their body is black, except for their distinctive red elytra that cover their wings. The species is capable of flight. Giraffe weevil Diet They are herbivore insects, with adults feeding on a tree that is commonly known as the "giraffe beetle tree "(Dichaetanthera arborea). They spend most of their lives on these small trees, venturing far from them only on rare occasions. Giraffe weevil Reproduction Males use their long necks to fight with other males to win the right to mate with a nearby female. They use them as a weapon to push and wrestle with the opponent. The winner then mates with the female. The female then secures a leaf - from Dichaetanthera arborea - and uses it to build a cigar-like nest. To do so, she will fold and curl it multiple times. Then, she lays a single egg inside the leaf. Finally, she snips the leaf from the plant, which falls to the forest floor. The leaf will provides sustenance to the newly-hatched larvae during its first days of life. This leaf-rolling behaviour is not unique to the giraffe weevil, its something all Attelabidae species do and this is why they are commonly known as the leaf-rolling weevils. Giraffe weevil Interesting Facts - Despite their somewhat frightening appearance, they are not dangerous to humans - Lasiorynchus barbicornis is an unrelated species from New Zealand that is also called Giraffe weevil

The giraffe weevil is a weevil species endemic to the forests of Madagascar. It was discovered in 2008, hence little is known about it. As you have probably guessed, its named this way due to having an extended neck, much like giraffes do. Giraffe weevil Description The giraffe weevil is sexually dimorphic, meaning that there is a great phenotypic difference between males and females of the same species. Specifically, males have a neck that is 2 to 3 times longer than their female counterparts. The extended neck is an adaptation that is used for intraspecific combat and nest building. Males have a length of almost an inch (2.5 cm), making them one of the longest Attelabidae species. Most of their body is black, except for their distinctive red elytra that cover their wings. The species is capable of flight. Giraffe weevil Diet They are herbivore insects, with adults feeding on a tree that is commonly known as the "giraffe beetle tree "(Dichaetanthera arborea). They spend most of their lives on these small trees, venturing far from them only on rare occasions. Giraffe weevil Reproduction Males use their long necks to fight with other males to win the right to mate with a nearby female. They use them as a weapon to push and wrestle with the opponent. The winner then mates with the female. The female then secures a leaf - from Dichaetanthera arborea - and uses it to build a cigar-like nest. To do so, she will fold and curl it multiple times. Then, she lays a single egg inside the leaf. Finally, she snips the leaf from the plant, which falls to the forest floor. The leaf will provides sustenance to the newly-hatched larvae during its first days of life. This leaf-rolling behaviour is not unique to the giraffe weevil, its something all Attelabidae species do and this is why they are commonly known as the leaf-rolling weevils. Giraffe weevil Interesting Facts - Despite their somewhat frightening appearance, they are not dangerous to humans - Lasiorynchus barbicornis is an unrelated species from New Zealand that is also called Giraffe weevil

Information, images, videos and facts about giraffe weevils

The giraffe weevil (Trachelophorus giraffa) is a weevil found in Southern Africa, India, south-east Asia.