Rhyncolus cercocarpus
Thatcher, 1940
Rhyncolus cercocarpus is a of true weevil described by Thatcher in 1940. The specific epithet 'cercocarpus' references its association with mountain mahogany ( Cercocarpus), a favored plant of related groups. As a member of the genus Rhyncolus, it belongs to a group of weevils typically associated with woody plants. The species is known to occur in North America, though detailed biological information remains limited.
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Rhyncolus cercocarpus: /ˈrɪŋkələs ˌsɜrkoʊˈkɑrpəs/
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Distribution
North America. Specific locality records are sparse, but the has been documented as present on the continent. The type locality and precise range boundaries have not been established in available sources.
Host Associations
- Cercocarpus - implied by specific epithetThe name 'cercocarpus' directly references this plant , suggesting a association. Related Rhyncolus species are known to feed on woody plants, and the genus Cercocarpus (mountain mahogany) is a documented host for numerous wood-boring beetles in the Buprestidae.
More Details
Nomenclatural note
The specific epithet 'cercocarpus' was presumably chosen to reflect an ecological association with mountain mahogany (Cercocarpus spp.), a shrubby tree in the western United States. This naming convention is common in wood-associated beetles, where plant specificity often drives designation.