Cyrtotrachelus dux
Cyrtotrachelus dux, the Bamboo beetle or Long Armed Snout Beetle, is a species of beetles belonging to the family Curculionidae.
| Cyrtotrachelus dux | |
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| Museum specimen of Cyrtotrachelus dux | |
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| Species: | C. dux |
| Binomial name | |
| Cyrtotrachelus dux Boheman in Schönherr, 1845 | |
Description
Cyrtotrachelus dux can reach a length of 18–38 millimetres (0.71–1.50 in). The basic color of the body ranges from light brown to dark reddish brown. In the males the first pair of legs is very long. Larvae suck sap from tender bamboo shoots from May to October. These large beetles are considered a serious pest in bamboo plantation, frequently leading to the death the host plants. Nematodes are commonly used to control this pest. These weevils are edible and are usually consumed in fried form by various ethnic groups.
Distribution and habitat
This species is widespread in Asia, mainly in Bangladesh, China, Thailand, Myanmar, India, Sri Lanka and Nepal. These giant weevils live in forests and plantations of bamboo. In Nepal, young kids like to fly this beetle by tying thread on its leg.