Weevil

Description:

Adult: This insect is a robust weevil similar in body form to other Eurhinus weevils (Bondar 1948) and, like many of the other species, Eurhinus magnificus adults are brilliantly colored. The entire body is a vibrant, metallic blue-green with areas of metallic red-copper on the humeri and apex of the elytra and on the pronotum, rostrum, and legs. The mean dimensions of the adult are 5.66 mm long by 3.71 mm wide (Ulmer et al. 2007).

Habitat:

The genus includes 23 species that are widely distributed. Eurhinus magnificus occurs in Belize, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua and Panama (Vaurie 1982, Schall 2002). In 2005, Eurhinus magnificus was abundant and successfully reproducing in various habitats where the host plant Cissus verticillata was present across Miami-Dade and Broward Counties. After first being reported in Florida in 2002, it appears to be established and flourishing in the southeast region of the state.

Notes:

Eurhinus magnificus Gyllenhal was first reported in Florida in 2002 when a single specimen was found in an ornamental nursery in Broward County (Feiber 2002). It was collected again in 2003 near Homestead, Miami-Dade County, and was also intercepted in a shipment of bananas from Costa Rica (Fowler 2004). It is likely that this weevil was inadvertently imported into Florida through trade in live plants or plant products. In 2005, all life stages of Eurhinus magnificus were collected repeatedly in both Broward and Miami-Dade Counties from the host plant Cissus verticillata (L.) Nicolson & Jarvis (Vitaceae).