Phyllobius glaucus
Encyclopedia
Phyllobius glaucus is a species
of weevil
found across Europe
, especially in carrs
. It is a pest of a variety of fruit tree
s, but has little economic effect. It was first described by Giovanni Antonio Scopoli
in 1763.
. A single specimen of P. glaucus (under the name P. calcaratus) has been recorded from Canada
, but this is though to be an error.
s, including apple
s, pear
s, cherries
and plum
s. The insects chew small holes in the leaves
and petal
s of the trees. It is a typical component of the fauna of alder
carr
in northwestern Europe
.
in his 1763 work , under the name Curculio glaucus. A second species was later named Curculio glaucus, but has since been renamed to Coniocleonus glaucus. Taxonomic synonyms
of Phyllobius glaucus include:
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
of weevil
Weevil
A weevil is any beetle from the Curculionoidea superfamily. They are usually small, less than , and herbivorous. There are over 60,000 species in several families, mostly in the family Curculionidae...
found across Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
, especially in carrs
Carr (topography)
A carr is a type of waterlogged, wooded terrain that, typically, represents a succession stage between the original reedy swamp and the eventual formation of forest in a sub-maritime climate....
. It is a pest of a variety of fruit tree
Fruit tree
A fruit tree is a tree which bears fruit that is consumed or used by people — all trees that are flowering plants produce fruit, which are the ripened ovaries of flowers containing one or more seeds. In horticultural usage, the term 'fruit tree' is limited to those that provide fruit for...
s, but has little economic effect. It was first described by Giovanni Antonio Scopoli
Giovanni Antonio Scopoli
Giovanni Antonio Scopoli was an Italian physician and naturalist.-Biography:...
in 1763.
Description
Adults grow to 8–12 mm (0.31496062992126–0.47244094488189 ) long. The body is black, but is covered with elongate, hair-like scales that give the animal a very variable, greenish-brown appearance. The legs are reddish brown.Distribution
Phyllobius glaucus is common and widespread in EuropeEurope
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
. A single specimen of P. glaucus (under the name P. calcaratus) has been recorded from Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, but this is though to be an error.
Ecology and life cycle
Phyllobius glaucus is associated with a wide range of trees and shrubs, and is a minor pest of fruit treeFruit tree
A fruit tree is a tree which bears fruit that is consumed or used by people — all trees that are flowering plants produce fruit, which are the ripened ovaries of flowers containing one or more seeds. In horticultural usage, the term 'fruit tree' is limited to those that provide fruit for...
s, including apple
Apple
The apple is the pomaceous fruit of the apple tree, species Malus domestica in the rose family . It is one of the most widely cultivated tree fruits, and the most widely known of the many members of genus Malus that are used by humans. Apple grow on small, deciduous trees that blossom in the spring...
s, pear
Pear
The pear is any of several tree species of genus Pyrus and also the name of the pomaceous fruit of these trees. Several species of pear are valued by humans for their edible fruit, but the fruit of other species is small, hard, and astringent....
s, cherries
Cherry
The cherry is the fruit of many plants of the genus Prunus, and is a fleshy stone fruit. The cherry fruits of commerce are usually obtained from a limited number of species, including especially cultivars of the wild cherry, Prunus avium....
and plum
Plum
A plum or gage is a stone fruit tree in the genus Prunus, subgenus Prunus. The subgenus is distinguished from other subgenera in the shoots having a terminal bud and solitary side buds , the flowers in groups of one to five together on short stems, and the fruit having a groove running down one...
s. The insects chew small holes in the leaves
Leaf
A leaf is an organ of a vascular plant, as defined in botanical terms, and in particular in plant morphology. Foliage is a mass noun that refers to leaves as a feature of plants....
and petal
Petal
Petals are modified leaves that surround the reproductive parts of flowers. They often are brightly colored or unusually shaped to attract pollinators. Together, all of the petals of a flower are called a corolla. Petals are usually accompanied by another set of special leaves called sepals lying...
s of the trees. It is a typical component of the fauna of alder
Alder
Alder is the common name of a genus of flowering plants belonging to the birch family . The genus comprises about 30 species of monoecious trees and shrubs, few reaching large size, distributed throughout the North Temperate Zone and in the Americas along the Andes southwards to...
carr
Carr (topography)
A carr is a type of waterlogged, wooded terrain that, typically, represents a succession stage between the original reedy swamp and the eventual formation of forest in a sub-maritime climate....
in northwestern Europe
North-West Europe
North-West Europe is a term that refers to a northern area of Western Europe, although the exact area or countries it comprises varies.-Geographic definition:...
.
Taxonomic history
Phyllobius glaucus was first described by Giovanni Antonio ScopoliGiovanni Antonio Scopoli
Giovanni Antonio Scopoli was an Italian physician and naturalist.-Biography:...
in his 1763 work , under the name Curculio glaucus. A second species was later named Curculio glaucus, but has since been renamed to Coniocleonus glaucus. Taxonomic synonyms
Synonym (taxonomy)
In scientific nomenclature, a synonym is a scientific name that is or was used for a taxon of organisms that also goes by a different scientific name. For example, Linnaeus was the first to give a scientific name to the Norway spruce, which he called Pinus abies...
of Phyllobius glaucus include:
- Curculio glaucus Scopoli, 1763
- Curculio coelestinus Scopoli, 1763
- Curculio carniolicus Gmelin, 1790
- Curculio calcaratus Fabricius, 1792
- Phyllobius calcaratus (Fabricius, 1792)
- Curculio caesius Marsham, 1802
- Curculio cnides Marsham, 1802
- Phyllobius atrovirens Gyllenhal, 1834
- Phyllobius alneti C. G. Thomson, 1859
- Phyllobius maculatus Tournier, 1877
- Phyllobius nudus Westhoff, 1882
- Phyllobius densatus Schilsky, 1886
- Phyllobius schilskyi Faust, 1890
- Phyllobius nigripes Gerhardt, 1900
- Phyllobius nigrofemoratus Gabriel, 1900
- Phyllobius fuscofumosus Reitter, 1906
- Phyllobius tibialis Schilsky, 1908
- Phyllobius pseudodensatus Reitter, 1916