Yellow Poplar Weevil
Odontopus calceatus
This record describes Odontopus calceatus (species). Recorded family: Curculionidae. Recorded order: Coleoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Coleoptera (Beetles)
- Suborder
- Polyphaga
- Superfamily
- Curculionoidea
- Family
- Curculionidae (Snout and Bark Beetles)
- Subfamily
- Curculioninae
- Tribe
- Camarotini
- Genus
- Odontopus
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
e. US (MA-IA-LA-FL) - Map , e. of the Miss. R., uncommon along the southern coastal plains....
Seasonal Activity
adults emerge in midsummer (appear in large numbers in June), feed for a brief period, then move to winter shelter and overwinter in protected places (e.g., leaf litter or indoors)
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larvae mine leaves of sassafras, magnolia, tulip tree, and Laurus nobilis ; adults feed on buds and leaves ( 5 ) ( 3 )
Life History
one generation per year ; eggs are laid in the midrib on the underside of leaves in May-Jun Larvae bore into the leaf and mine the interior, commonly side by side in 1 or 2 groups; sometimes there are 2 mines per leaf. Pupation occurs in spherical, silken cocoons in inflated portions of the mine. Overwinter as adults in leaf litter
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Odontopus calceatus (Say, 1831)
About Primitive Winged Insects: the wider group
Order-level background for Coleoptera, the group containing Odontopus calceatus. 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 Poplar Weevil (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by tom murray; Additional contributions by Beatriz Moisset , Mike Quinn , ceiseman , v belov , mfdigiro , Marci Hess
Frequently Asked Questions About Yellow Poplar Weevil
How big is Yellow Poplar Weevil?
2.5–4 mm
Where is Yellow Poplar Weevil found?
Range: e. US (MA-IA-LA-FL) - Map , e. of the Miss. R., uncommon along the southern coastal plains....
What does Yellow Poplar Weevil eat?
The diet of the Yellow Poplar Weevil includes Larvae mine leaves of sassafras, magnolia, tulip tree, and Laurus nobilis ; adults feed on buds and leaves ( 5 ) ( 3 ).
When is Yellow Poplar Weevil active?
Yellow Poplar Weevil: seasonal activity - adults emerge in midsummer (appear in large numbers in June), feed for a brief period, then move to winter shelter and overwinter in protected places (e.g., leaf litter or indoors).
What is the life cycle of a Yellow Poplar Weevil?
one generation per year ; eggs are laid in the midrib on the underside of leaves in May-Jun Larvae bore into the leaf and mine the interior, commonly side by side in 1 or 2 groups; sometimes there are 2 mines per leaf. Pupation occurs in spherical, silken cocoons in inflated portions of the mine. Overwinter as adults in leaf litter