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FUNGUS WEEVILS

ANTHRIBIDAE

T

he Anthribidae is one of the most ancient

lineages of weevils, with fossils known from

the Jurassic of Kazakhstan, more than 150 million

years ago, which, in spite of their great age,

quite closely resemble species and genera living

today. Like many of the early weevil groups,

anthribids are characterized by having straight

antennae (without the geniculate knee bend that

characterizes true Curculionidae) and by not

feeding on living plants. Some species have

developed very unusual feeding habits: Araecerus

fasciculatus is a cosmotropical stored-product pest,

frequently attacking stored coffee beans and cocoa

pods in conditions of high humidity. It is probably

digesting fungi, but it does physical damage by

boring into the beans and pods. The European

family

Anthribidae

known species

6,000

distribution

Worldwide except Antarctica, but

concentrated in the tropics

habitat

Forests and woodlands

size

2–45 mm

diet

Fungi and fungoid wood, a few species feed

on stored products and even fewer are

predators of scale insects

notes

In some Asian tropical anthribids, such as the

genera Mecocerus and Xenocerus, males

have antennae many times as long as the

body. They are used for mate-guarding, to

detect the approach of another male, as in

some longhorn beetles (Cerambycidae),

which they superficially resemble

ANTHRIBIDAE—Fungus Weevils