Tanymecus lacaena
(Herbst, 1797)
Sesuvium Weevil
Tanymecus lacaena is a broad-nosed weevil in the Curculionidae, commonly known as the Sesuvium Weevil. It is native to the southeastern United States and has been documented in coastal and wetland . The is associated with plants in the Sesuvium, which provides its .
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Tanymecus lacaena: /təniˈmiːkəs ləˈsiːnə/
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Identification
As a member of the Tanymecus, this possesses the characteristic broad, short rostrum (snout) typical of broad-nosed weevils, distinguishing it from weevils with elongated snouts. Identification to species level requires examination of genitalia and other subtle morphological features.
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Habitat
Coastal and wetland environments; associated with saltmarsh and coastal plain where plants occur.
Distribution
Southeastern United States: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, and Texas.
Diet
Associated with Sesuvium (sea purslane), a succulent plant found in coastal saline environments.
Host Associations
- Sesuvium - plantSource of ; specific feeding relationship requires confirmation
Similar Taxa
- Tanymecus confususOverlaps in range and ; both are southeastern US broad-nosed weevils requiring careful examination for separation
- Other Tanymecus species contains multiple similar distinguished by subtle morphological characters
More Details
Taxonomic note
The specific epithet is sometimes misspelled as 'lacaeana' in older literature, but 'lacaena' (Herbst, 1797) is the accepted spelling.