Orchidophilus aterrimus
(Waterhouse, 1874)
orchid weevil
Orchidophilus aterrimus, commonly known as the orchid , is a flower weevil in the . It is recognized as a pest of cultivated orchids, causing through feeding activity. The has been documented in the Philippines and Hawaii, with additional records from Europe.
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Orchidophilus aterrimus: /ɔrˌkɪd.oʊˈfaɪ.ləs əˈtɛr.ɪ.məs/
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Habitat
Orchid environments; associated with orchid-growing facilities and natural orchid .
Distribution
Philippines; Hawaii, USA; Europe (per iNaturalist and GBIF records).
Diet
Orchid plants; feeds on orchid tissues causing damage to cultivated specimens.
Host Associations
- orchids - food plantPrimary ; is named for this association and recognized as an orchid pest.
Life Cycle
Complete with , larval, pupal, and stages. Specific duration of developmental stages has been studied in Philippine .
Ecological Role
in orchid agroecosystems; causes economic injury to cultivated orchids through feeding damage.
Human Relevance
Agricultural pest of orchids; of concern to orchid growers and facilities due to feeding damage.
More Details
Taxonomic Note
GBIF lists this as a synonym of Baridius aterrimus, though Orchidophilus aterrimus remains in common use.
Research History
and studied by Hirao, Gabriel, and Facundo (2001) in the Philippines, focusing on its pest status in orchid .