Yellow Starthistle Hairy Weevil
Eustenopus villosus
This record describes Eustenopus villosus (species). Recorded family: Curculionidae. Recorded order: Coleoptera.
Identification and Appearance
introduced (CA 1990) to control the invasive Yellow Star Thistle. The weevils can look very different once their vestiture is lost.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Coleoptera (Beetles)
- Suborder
- Polyphaga
- Superfamily
- Curculionoidea
- Family
- Curculionidae (Snout and Bark Beetles)
- Subfamily
- Lixinae
- Tribe
- Lixini
- Genus
- Eustenopus
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
est. in w. US (WA-ID-CA), native to the Mediterranean, introduced in NA for weed control
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Host: Yellow Starthistle, Centaurea solstitialis
About Primitive Winged Insects: the wider group
Order-level background for Coleoptera, the group containing Eustenopus villosus. 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 Yellow Starthistle Hairy Weevil (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Jim McClarin; Additional contributions by Beatriz Moisset , Mike Quinn , v belov
Frequently Asked Questions About Yellow Starthistle Hairy Weevil
What is Yellow Starthistle Hairy Weevil?
Yellow Starthistle Hairy Weevil (Eustenopus villosus) is a species in the family Curculionidae, within the order Coleoptera.
Where is Yellow Starthistle Hairy Weevil found?
Range: est. in w. US (WA-ID-CA), native to the Mediterranean, introduced in NA for weed control
What does Yellow Starthistle Hairy Weevil eat?
The diet of the Yellow Starthistle Hairy Weevil includes Host: Yellow Starthistle, Centaurea solstitialis.