Omonadus formicarius

(Goeze, 1777)

antlike flower beetle

Omonadus formicarius is a of antlike flower beetle in the Anthicidae. It is distinguished from the sweetpotato weevil Cylas formicarius by family membership and . The species has a broad geographic distribution spanning multiple continents including the Caribbean, Central America, North America, Oceania, South America, and Europe.

Omonadus-formicarius-02-fws by Francisco Welter-Schultes. Used under a CC0 license.

Omonadus-formicarius-05-fws by Francisco Welter-Schultes. Used under a CC0 license.

Omonadus-formicarius-04-fws by Francisco Welter-Schultes. Used under a CC0 license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Omonadus formicarius: /oʊˈmɒnədəs ˌfɔːrmɪˈkɛəɹiəs/

These audio files are automatically generated. While they are not always 100% accurate, they are a good starting point.

Identification

Omonadus formicarius is an antlike flower beetle ( Anthicidae), not a weevil. It should not be confused with Cylas formicarius, the sweetpotato weevil (family Brentidae), a major agricultural pest. The two share only a specific epithet and superficially similar references. Anthicidae beetles are characterized by their -like appearance, with a narrow pronotum and often elbowed , whereas Cylas formicarius has the elongated snout typical of weevils.

Images

Distribution

Caribbean, Central America, North America, Oceania, South America, and Europe. Specific locality records include São Jorge and the Brazilian Federal District (BR-DF).

Similar Taxa

Cylas formicariusShares the specific epithet 'formicarius' and is commonly called 'sweetpotato weevil,' leading to potential confusion. However, Cylas formicarius belongs to Brentidae, is a serious pest of sweet potato crops worldwide, and has an elongated weevil snout absent in Omonadus formicarius.

Misconceptions

The name 'formicarius' in both Omonadus formicarius and Cylas formicarius has led to conflation in popular and agricultural literature. Sources discussing 'sweetpotato weevil' or 'Cylas formicarius' do not pertain to Omonadus formicarius, which is not a crop pest.

More Details

Taxonomic clarification

Much of the available literature referencing 'formicarius' in an agricultural or entomological context actually concerns Cylas formicarius (sweetpotato weevil), not Omonadus formicarius. The latter appears to be a relatively obscure with limited published biological information.

Data availability

As of the knowledge cutoff, detailed biological information on Omonadus formicarius appears sparse in the primary literature. The 47 iNaturalist observations suggest it is documented but not well-studied.