Weevil - Pachyrhynchus

Weevil - Pachyrhynchus

Pachyrhynchus are weevils from the family Curculionidae and are found primarily on Southeast Asian islands. These flightless beetles have striking colors and fused elytra. The eggs are laid in plant tissue, from which the larvae develop and feed in the stems of their host plants.

The diversification of the genus suggests a spread across islands. These insects are believed to eat their host plants to get from one island to another. The wood-boring lifestyle of the eggs and larvae as well as the air space under the elytra could make hovering easier. However, experiments with Pachyrhynchus jitanasaius show a low survival rate of adults in water. However, the larvae survive in seawater and may be the main dispersal stages.

Further research shows that Pachyrhynchus eggs can survive in certain bird stomachs, which could explain the successful expansion of the genus.