Vegetable Weevil
Listroderes difficilis
This record describes Listroderes difficilis (species). Recorded family: Curculionidae. Recorded order: Coleoptera.
Identification and Appearance
nearly identical in all external characters to L. costirostris ; males are readily distinguished by ædeagus but extremely rare earliest record in our area: MS 1922
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Coleoptera (Beetles)
- Suborder
- Polyphaga
- Superfamily
- Curculionoidea
- Family
- Curculionidae (Snout and Bark Beetles)
- Subfamily
- Cyclominae
- Tribe
- Listroderini
- Genus
- Listroderes
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
native to S.America, now almost worldwide in warm temperate/subtropical climates; in our area, much of the US (OR‒CA to NJ‒FL)
Seasonal Activity
at lights throughout the year in e.-c.TX, abundant during winter (=v=)
Diet and Behavior
Diet: hosts: a wide range of vegetables, cultivated flowers, and weeds
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Listroderes difficilis Germain 1895
About Primitive Winged Insects: the wider group
Order-level background for Coleoptera, the group containing Listroderes difficilis. 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 Vegetable Weevil (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Boris Büche; Additional contributions by Mike Quinn , v belov
Frequently Asked Questions About Vegetable Weevil
What is Vegetable Weevil?
Vegetable Weevil (Listroderes difficilis) is a species in the family Curculionidae, within the order Coleoptera.
How do you identify Vegetable Weevil?
nearly identical in all external characters to L. costirostris ; males are readily distinguished by ædeagus but extremely rare
Where is Vegetable Weevil found?
Range: native to S.America, now almost worldwide in warm temperate/subtropical climates; in our area, much of the US (OR‒CA to NJ‒FL)
What does Vegetable Weevil eat?
The diet of the Vegetable Weevil includes hosts: a wide range of vegetables, cultivated flowers, and weeds.
When is Vegetable Weevil active?
Vegetable Weevil: seasonal activity - at lights throughout the year in e.-c.TX, abundant during winter (=v=).