A worldwide community photographing and learning about wildlife
Project Noah Nature School
fam. Attelabidae
Fierce looking, 6-8 mm sized beetle with thorns on the back.
It was found in a semi-urban area (airstrip) with a lot of meter high grass and bushes.
The subfamily Attelabinae are the true leaf rollers. The female cuts slits into leaves to deposit her eggs, and rolls that part of the leaf in which the larvae will feed.
I am so happy for your skills Mr S. I just love that my "unknowns" gets a family! I like structure and I like to do the research around my observations, and you make it possible! Very much appreciated!!!
Lauren, I go for weird weevil :D I like the link to "Spiny giraffe weevils and host plant" and the "Hoplapoderus hystrix".I just wish I knew that this buddy were a bit special, then I would have taken pictures of the host plant as well... Lesson learned...
Maybe you have something similar to this one? Maybe yours is unknown.
http://orionmystery.blogspot.mx/2011/03/....
It is really beautiful! and much smaller than I expected. I still think it might be a weevil because of the antennae, but if so, a weird one.
I have one more picture Lauren, but it got stuck when I tried to upload it. I have a very weak signal on my dongel atm, but tomorrow afternoon I will be back in Maputo with my reliable internet connection. I think I have to wait until then :(
Very nice! It looks like a broad nosed weevil. Would you happen to have a dorsal picture of the whole beetle?
