Rhinusa tetra

(Fabricius, 1792)

Mullein Weevil, European Curculionid Weevil

Rhinusa tetra is a true weevil in the Curculionidae, tribe Mecinini, commonly known as the mullein weevil. It is a European that has been proposed as a potential agent for Common Mullein (Verbascum thapsus) in North America. The species was first described by Fabricius in 1792 and belongs to the taxonomically revised R. tetra , which includes three closely related species: R. comosa, R. moroderi, and R. verbasci.

Rhinusa tetra by no rights reserved, uploaded by Zygy. Used under a CC0 license.

Rhinusa tetra оon Verbascum around Botevgrad, Bulgaria 01 by Dimitǎr Boevski. Used under a CC BY-SA 4.0 license.

Rhinusa tetra 1151 by NobbiP. Used under a CC BY-SA 3.0 license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Rhinusa tetra: //rɪˈnaɪusə ˈtɛtrə//

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Identification

Rhinusa tetra can be distinguished from the three other valid in its (R. comosa, R. moroderi, R. verbasci) using morphological characters detailed in taxonomic keys. The species complex was historically confused due to multiple synonymies that have since been resolved through neotype and lectotype designations. Specific diagnostic characters include features of the rostrum and terminalia, though precise distinguishing traits from require reference to the original taxonomic revision.

Images

Distribution

Europe; recorded from Belgium and British Columbia, Canada (likely introduced or under evaluation for ). The is native to the Palearctic region.

Host Associations

Verbascum thapsus - herbivoreCommon Mullein; proposed target for in North America

Human Relevance

Evaluated as a potential agent for Common Mullein (Verbascum thapsus) in North America. The taxonomic clarification of the R. tetra was motivated in part by the need to correctly identify candidate agents for this purpose.

Similar Taxa

Rhinusa comosaMember of the R. tetra ; historically confused with R. tetra prior to taxonomic revision
Rhinusa moroderiMember of the R. tetra ; distinguished by morphological characters of rostrum and terminalia
Rhinusa verbasciMember of the R. tetra ; closely related and sympatric with R. tetra in parts of its range