Cionus tuberculosus - Young larva

- No description given -

comments (11)

Christine Young

Lion

That is so cool! Posted 6 years ago
1. Pudding4brains
  
  Lion
  
  Yes, I have a thing for mucus-covered larvae all sorts. Should make a note to upload some more here ... :o) Posted 6 years ago
2. 1. Christine Young
    
    Lion
    
    I do as well, and would love to see what you’ve got! Posted 6 years ago

Patomarazul

Lion

Wow! I would have never imagined, thanks for sharing! Posted 6 years ago
1. Pudding4brains
  
  Lion
  
  A few years back it also took me a while to figure out what these belonged to. I did already know the mucus-larvae of Caliroa and Oelema, so I was looking in the wrong direction ... Posted 6 years ago

Christine Young

Lion

Arp, do you know if this slime is considered to be a fecal shield? I can't find much info on this species. Posted 4 years ago
1. Pudding4brains
  
  Lion
  
  Hi Christine, I'd say that's up for discussion along the lines of semantics. The slime is produced/secreted by glands in the intestines, so technically it can be argued that it would count as "fecal" matter and indeed sometimes smaller particles of true fecal matter are found inside the slime, but I would classify that as "by product" of it passing to the same "duct". By no means these make an effort to have their true fecal matter absorbed/integrated into the slime in a way that the likes of Oulema or Lilioceris do:
  
  As seen on the image below the true poo is deposited on the substrate, not (intentionally) left in the slime:
  
  So, on the Cionini the slime remains mostly clear and it is thought to provide "camouflage" maybe more so than making them unpalatable, but I don't think any researcher has ever asked a potential predator about that.
  Before spinning a cocoon the glands in the intestines start producing silk, the slime layer is removed and the naked larva spins a cocoon. I was surprised by this (just read up on it a little) as I had somehow always suspected the cocoon to be largely dried "slime" reinforced with some spun secretion.
  
  Posted 4 years ago, modified 4 years ago
2. 1. Christine Young
    
    Lion
    
    Wow, Arp! Thanks so much for the detailed explanation. Fecal shields are awesome, but slime shields are equally awesome. It's just so delightfully gross. If I was an insect-eating predator, I would not eat a larva covered in slime or feces. But, I guess, never say never. It is very interesting that they produce silk in the manner you describe! That would be the ideal time to eat one of these larvae -- once the slime is removed. Posted 4 years ago
  2. 1. Pudding4brains
      
      Lion
      
      There is a wasp that specializes on the larvae of Cionus to fill its broodchambers with (Symmorphus gracilis). The few images I know of this wasp carrying away a Cionus larva are of "naked" larvae indeed :o)
      
      https://www.flickriver.com/photos/63075200@N07/26842240154/
      http://www.rosspiper.net/2019/11/25/mini-dramas/ Posted 4 years ago, modified 4 years ago
    2. 1. Christine Young
        
        Lion
        
        Wow, that's incredible! Posted 4 years ago

Christine Young

Lion
Today's Facebook post:

Today’s Day 2 of our unusual ‘creature feature’ week! #JungleDragon

Check out our list to see more:
- Creature Features
SLIME
This is a weevil larva! The larvae of Cionus tuberculosus cover themselves in slime that is secreted by glands in their intestines. This slime provides camouflage and makes it unpalatable to predators. One would assume it is an effective deterrent because, well, yuck! {Spotted in Netherlands by Pudding4brains} #Weevillarva #Cionustuberculosus

https://www.facebook.com/jungledragonwildlife
Posted 4 years ago

The Cionus tuberculosus

Cionus tuberculosus is one of the small species of weevils in the tribe Cionini that have free living larvae on the plant's surface which are covered in slime for protection and create little cocoons of larval secretion.

Info 14 0

Similar species: Beetles

Species identified by Pudding4brains