Chien C. Lee

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  • Like a glittering jewel of the rainforest, the almost unnatural colors of a Eupholus weevil (E. mimikanus) probably serve as a warning to predators of its distastefulness. Considered by many to be among the most beautiful weevils in the world, most Eupholus are endemic to New Guinea.
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  • A fly-mimicking weevil (Hoplocopturus sp.) from the Ecuadorian rainforest. Most cases of insect mimicry involve the imitation of a toxic or distasteful species as a model, so the reason for this beetle to appear like an entirely edible fly is not immediately apparent. However, entomologists studying these insects suggest that because flies are so agile and quick, most visually-oriented predators (particularly birds) probably learn to avoid wasting their time pursuing them, hence the incentive for this “evasive mimicry”. Sumaco Napo-Galeras National Park, Napo, Ecuador.
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  • Giraffe Weevil (Trachelophorus giraffa), male. Andasibe, Madagascar.
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  • You might think that an animal with an excessively long neck would be predisposed to unfortunate injuries, but such eccentricities in body form can become justified in the competitive arena of sexual selection. This tiny Bornean weevil (Cycnotrachelus satelles), closely related to the famous Giraffe Weevil of Madagascar, uses his lengthy neck in wrestling matches to dislodge rival males off their food plants during mating season. Having intimidating physical attributes can sometimes mean combat is not even necessary: males have been observed facing off, nodding their heads (the necks are hinged in the middle) before one makes a retreat. The females, which are not thus pressured by competition, have much shorter necks. Danum Valley, Sabah, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Stilt-legged weevil (Talanthia phalangium). Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Glitter Weevil (Compsus sp.). Sumaco Napo-Galeras National Park, Napo, Ecuador.
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  • Paracycnotrachelus sp. Some beetles of the extremely diverse family leaf-rollers (families Attelabidae and Rhynchitidae, numbering several thousand species) are called Giraffe Weevils due to their long necks. They measure only 1-2cm in total length. Uthai Thani, Thailand.
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  • The Red Palm Weevil (Rhynchophorus ferrugineus) is a common pest across Southeast Asia and its large fatty grubs ('sago worms') are often consumed by local people. Recent molecular studies have shown that the once synonymized R. vulneratus (shown here) of Borneo and Indonesia, represents a distinct species from R. ferrugineus, despite the great deal of color variation in each. Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Weevil (Metapocyrtus lindabonus). Davao, Philippines.
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  • Although the ‘zombie ants’ are undoubtedly the most infamous, entomopathogenic fungi come in a great diversity of species, many of which specialize in a particular type of prey. Here, a weevil has been killed by Ophiocordyceps curculionum, and is now a host to three fruiting bodies that have been releasing new spores. Like the mind-controlling fungi in ants, this pathogen similarly manipulates the weevil like a puppeteer to position itself in the ideal spot before it dies. Yasuní National Park, Ecuador.
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  • With the color blue being so rare in nature, it’s an obvious choice if you want to really stand out from the crowd. The incredible coloration of this Eupholus weevil from the rainforests of New Guinea probably warns of its toxicity to predators, but in fact it actually possesses no blue pigment at all. Tiny scales which cover the beetle’s shell contain three-dimensional photonic crystal structures that refract light in a similar fashion to that of an opal stone. Papua, Indonesia (New Guinea).
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  • A Giant Palm Weevil (Macrochirus praetor), one of the world's largest weevils, from the forests of Taman Negara (Malaysia).
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  • Aphiocephalus guerini. Andasibe, Madagascar.
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  • A fly-mimicking weevil (Hoplocopturus sp.) from the Ecuadorian rainforest. Most cases of insect mimicry involve the imitation of a toxic or distasteful species as a model, so the reason for this beetle to appear like an entirely edible fly is not immediately apparent. However, entomologists studying these insects suggest that because flies are so agile and quick, most visually-oriented predators (particularly birds) probably learn to avoid wasting their time pursuing them, hence the incentive for this “evasive mimicry”. Sumaco Napo-Galeras National Park, Napo, Ecuador.
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  • Weevil (Episomus sp.). Danum Valley Conservation Area, Sabah, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Weevil (Cholus ellipsifer) on palm inflorescence. Yasuní National Park, Ecuador.
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  • Weevil (Rhinoscapha cf. humboldtiana). Papua, Indoensia (New Guinea).
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  • Weevil (Cratosomus sp.). Sumaco Napo-Galeras National Park, Ecuador.
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  • Weevil (Arachnobas sp.) with mites. Waigeo Island, West Papua, Indonesia.
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