Ochyromera

Pascoe, 1874

leguminous seed weevils

Ochyromera is a of () comprising more than 30 described . The genus is distributed in the Oriental and Far East Palaearctic regions, particularly in mountain areas of warm to subtropical Southeast Asia. Some species have been to other regions, including North America. Members are associated with leguminous and other , with typically developing inside seeds or fruits.

Ochyromera ligustri by (c) skitterbug, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by skitterbug. Used under a CC-BY license.Ochyromera ligustri by (c) Justin Williams, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Justin Williams. Used under a CC-BY license.Ochyromera ligustri by (c) Justin Williams, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Justin Williams. Used under a CC-BY license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Ochyromera: /ˌɒkʰɪˈrɒmɛrə/

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Images

Habitat

Mountain areas of warm to subtropical Southeast Asia; forests, floodplains, and agricultural areas where plants occur. Specific occupy jackfruit orchards (O. artocarpi) or Ligustrum-dominated (O. ligustri in North range).

Distribution

Oriental and Far East Palaearctic regions, including Southeast Asia. O. artocarpi reported from India (Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Assam, Tripura, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Himalayan foothills). O. ligustri to southeastern United States, New Jersey, North and South Dakota.

Seasonality

O. artocarpi: peak December–April, maximum in March. O. ligustri: emerge from fruit in May, mature by April.

Diet

Variable by . O. artocarpi feed on jackfruit leaves; feed on young jackfruit tissues including pericarp and endocarp, and tender flower . O. ligustri adults feed on foliage and fruits; larvae feed on seeds and fruit flesh of Ligustrum spp.

Host Associations

  • Artocarpus heterophyllus - primary jackfruit; O. artocarpi
  • Ligustrum amurense - O. ligustri; literature record
  • Ligustrum japonicum - primary O. ligustri; complete development confirmed
  • Ligustrum lucidum - O. ligustri; literature record
  • Ligustrum sinense - presumed O. ligustri; presumed adapted
  • Syringa spp. - literature recordO. ligustri
  • Vitis spp. - literature recordO. ligustri

Life Cycle

O. artocarpi: (3.9 days) → five larval (11.8 days) → (3.1 days) → (7.3 days) → ; total development 25–26 days; inside young jackfruit; adults emerge through circular holes in dried fallen fruits. O. ligustri: adult females oviposit single egg in fruit seeds or flesh; feed during fall and winter; mature by April; adults emerge from ground-level fruit in May.

Behavior

O. artocarpi are sluggish before feeding, occasionally horizontally, and feed singly or in groups externally on fruit. O. ligustri shows narrow with visible feeding and marks on fruits.

Ecological Role

Some are major agricultural pests (O. artocarpi on jackfruit). O. ligustri is considered a potential fortuitous agent for privets in North America due to its narrow range and seed-feeding habit.

Human Relevance

O. artocarpi is a major pest of jackfruit in India, causing through fruit boring and premature fruit drop. O. ligustri may provide benefits against Ligustrum in the United States.

Similar Taxa

  • Other Curculionidae seed weevilsSimilar larval habits of seed and fruit boring; distinguished by and geographic distribution for Ochyromera

More Details

Taxonomic history

established by Pascoe in 1874. The genus has been associated with leguminous historically, though modern records include diverse hosts such as jackfruit (Moraceae) and privet (Oleaceae).

Environmental correlations

O. artocarpi positively correlates with evaporation and negatively correlates with precipitation.

Sources and further reading