Rice Water Weevil
Lissorhoptrus oryzophilus
This record describes Lissorhoptrus oryzophilus (species). Recorded family: Brachyceridae. Recorded order: Coleoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Lissorhoptrus oryzophilus is an insect belonging to the order coleoptera. It is native to North America, mostly in the southeastern part of the country, but has been established in California for over 50 years. A separate species of rice water weevil, Lissorhoptrus brevirostris is present in Cuba, Dominican Republic, Colombia, Suriname and Venezuela. Lissorhoptrus oryzophilus began spreading through the rice growing regions of Asia in 1976 (China, India, Japan, Korea and Taiwan); in Europe it has...
Wikipedia reference for Lissorhoptrus oryzophilus: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lissorhoptrus oryzophilus.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Coleoptera (Beetles)
- Suborder
- Polyphaga
- Superfamily
- Curculionoidea
- Family
- Brachyceridae (True Weevils)
- Subfamily
- Erirhininae
- Genus
- Lissorhoptrus (Rice Water Weevils)
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
e US, CA; Mexico, Cuba - Map , introduced into Eurasia
Diet and Behavior
Diet: hosts: many Poaceae and Cyperaceae, incl. rice
Life History
adults are strong swimmers
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Lissorhoptrus oryzophilus Kuschel 1952
About Primitive Winged Insects: the wider group
Order-level background for Coleoptera, the group containing Lissorhoptrus oryzophilus. 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 Rice Water Weevil (8)
Photo credits: (c) Jason M Crockwell, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-ND), uploaded by Jason M Crockwell | (c) WonGun Kim, all rights reserved, uploaded by WonGun Kim | (c) Kimberly R Fleming, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Kimberly R Fleming | (c) Erik Johnson, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Erik Johnson | Contributed by v belov; Additional contributions by Beatriz Moisset , Mike Quinn
Frequently Asked Questions About Rice Water Weevil
What is Rice Water Weevil?
Rice Water Weevil (Lissorhoptrus oryzophilus) is a species in the family Brachyceridae, within the order Coleoptera.
How big is Rice Water Weevil?
2.0-3.7 mm
Where is Rice Water Weevil found?
Range: e US, CA; Mexico, Cuba - Map , introduced into Eurasia
What does Rice Water Weevil eat?
The diet of the Rice Water Weevil includes hosts: many Poaceae and Cyperaceae, incl. rice.
What is the life cycle of a Rice Water Weevil?
adults are strong swimmers