| Larinus turbinatus (Gyllenhal, 1835) |
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Scientific name: Larinus turbinatus (Gyllenhal, 1835) Common name: French name: Order: Coleoptera Family: Curculionidae Wingspan : 4-9 mm. Biotope: Sunny waste lands and other places with Thistles. Geographic area: Originated from the Caucasus and Turkestan, Larinus turbinatus has spread out across central and southern Europe. Observation period : June to September. |
The Curculionidae of the Larinus genus are insects with a globally oval-shaped body, without long hairs on the legs nor on the body. The pronotum is rather transversal and narrowed at the front. The antennae are rather short. The shape of the rostrum is variable. Many Larinus show yellowish scales which may draw patterns. As these scales disappear with time, you must not use this criteria to tell species apart. Larinus turbinatus is characterized by a straight and conical-shaped rostrum both on a lateral view or upper side view, without median keel. The rostrum is shorter than the pronotum on males and hardly longer on females. Females lay their eggs in Thistle flowers of the Cirsium genus and the larvae will grow by eating the seeds. The books of "Faune de France" list 19 species in the Larinus genus. I have found three of them mentioned in Ile de France (region of Paris). Larinus jaceae and Larinus planus have a cylindrical-shaped rostrum. |
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Based on the common reflex of wildlife photographers I have shot this picture by positioning at the height of the subject's eyes. An upper side view would be welcome from a naturalist point of view. I need to think about this, one of these following years. |
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Here is one mating observed on a Thistle. The male, on top, has more yellowish scales that the female. The clearly conical-shaped rostrum indicate the Larinus turbinatus species. |
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I had to use the flash for this close-up picture. I am not yet an expert with this technic but I will make progress. |
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Here is at least one upper side view but I have not yet made any progress with the use of the flash light. |
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Same specimen as above, observed on the cover of my compost tank and put by myself on a small piece of wood for the picture. |
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Till today all the Larinus I have observed are listed as Larinus turbinatus (I hope that I haven't done any error). I do not despair observing one of its cousin soon. |
André Bon January 2021