Smicronyx tesselatus
Smicronyx tesselatus is a of true weevil in the Curculionidae. The Smicronyx comprises seed weevils associated with plants in the Asteraceae family, particularly sunflowers (Helianthus spp.). Several in this genus are significant agricultural pests of cultivated sunflowers, though specific documentation for S. tesselatus is limited. The species was referenced in a 2021 Texas collecting trip report where it was initially misidentified as a lightly marked specimen of the related species Goes tesselatus, a cerambycid beetle.
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Smicronyx tesselatus: //smaɪˈkroʊ.nɪks tɛˈsɛl.eɪ.təs//
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Similar Taxa
- Goes tesselatusBoth share the species epithet 'tesselatus' and were confused in field identification. Goes tesselatus is a cerambycid longhorn beetle in the Lamiinae, whereas Smicronyx tesselatus is a curculionid weevil. The two belong to different within Coleoptera and can be distinguished by structure (longer than body in Goes, short and elbowed in Smicronyx) and overall body form.