Colecerus dispar
This record describes Colecerus dispar (species). Recorded family: Curculionidae. Recorded order: Coleoptera.
Identification and Appearance
per LeConte's (1874) original description, the specimen from Arizona has the thorax at base as wide as the elytra, the hind angles being expanded, flattened and acute, with the side margin acute; the sides in front of the angles are straight and oblique. Four specimens from Texas, which I considered as females, have the prothorax rounded on the sides, narrower in front, scarcely subsinuate at base, which is not as wide as the elytra, with the hind angles not prominent, but slightly rounded.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Coleoptera (Beetles)
- Suborder
- Polyphaga
- Superfamily
- Curculionoidea
- Family
- Curculionidae (Snout and Bark Beetles)
- Subfamily
- Entiminae
- Tribe
- Eudiagogini
- Genus
- Colecerus
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
AZ, TX(?) / w. Mex. - Map
About Primitive Winged Insects: the wider group
Order-level background for Coleoptera, the group containing Colecerus dispar. Species-specific details appear above.
Group overview
Coleoptera is the largest order of insects with over 400,000 described species, representing ~25% of all known animal species and ~40% of all insects. In the U.S. alone, nearly 30,000 beetle species have been identified.
Ecological role of the group
Beetles are prominent decomposers, especially in forests, breaking down dead wood and recycling nutrients. As predators, they reduce populations of pest insects. Many species are also important pollinators of flowering plants.
Economic and practical significance of the group
Beetles have major economic significance: leaf beetles (Chrysomelidae) and weevils (Curculionoidea) are among the most destructive agricultural pests globally, costing billions annually, while predatory species like ladybugs provide natural pest control.
Recorded sources for this group: Britannica, Smithsonian, NCSU Entomology. Imported estimates may describe particular regions or reporting periods.
Photos of Colecerus dispar (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by margarethe brummermann; Additional contributions by Mike Quinn , antarctica
Frequently Asked Questions About Colecerus dispar
What is Colecerus dispar?
Colecerus dispar is a species in the family Curculionidae, within the order Coleoptera.
How big is Colecerus dispar?
4-6 mm (LeConte 1874)
How do you identify Colecerus dispar?
per LeConte's (1874) original description, the specimen from Arizona has the thorax at base as wide as the elytra, the hind angles being expanded, flattened and acute, with the side margin acute; the sides in front of the angles are straight and oblique. Four specimens from Texas, which I considered as females, have the prothorax rounded on the sides, narrower in front, scarcely subsinuate at base, which is not as wide as the elytra, with the hind angles not prominent, but slightly rounded.
Where is Colecerus dispar found?
Range: AZ, TX(?) / w. Mex. - Map