The giraffe weevil 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 , among the longest for any attelabid species. The extended neck is an adaptation that assists in.. more
Similar species: Beetles
By Ferdy Christant
All rights reserved
Uploaded Jan 18, 2013. Captured Sep 8, 2012 12:50.
comments (10)
The Giraffe Weevil (Trachelophorus giraffa) is a beetle that is endemic to Madagascar. As you may expect, it gets its common name from its super long neck. It's a sexually dimorphic species, which means that males and females look different. Specifically, the neck of the males is 2 to 3 times longer than that of the females. The males use their extended necks for intraspecific combat in which they battle other males over mating rights. The winner gets to mate with the object of their affection: a nearby female. The females have powerful legs, which they use to fold, roll, and curl a leaf multiple times in order to make the perfect, cozy nest. When she finishes the construction, she lays a single egg inside the curled-up leaf, snips the leaf from the plant, and lets it fall to the forest floor. The leaf will provide sustenance for the larva, once it hatches. The giraffe weevil is certainly a charismatic testimony to the incredible diversity of life on planet Earth. {Spotted in Madagascar by JungleDragon founder, Ferdy Christant} #JungleDragon Posted 11 months ago
I can't get over single egg though. I don't know enough about insects to say if this is common, but it seems exceptional to me in the insect world. Single egg....wow. And yes that female is STRONG. Posted 11 months ago