We Have Giraffe Weevil at Home, Pt. 4 - _TNY_9174

One of the coolest bugs I know of and would like to shoot is the giraffe weevil, Trachelophorus giraffa. A fantastic animal with red elytra and otherwise black body and a almost bizarrely long neck. Since it's endemic to Madagascar and I've never been to Madagascar it remains just a dream species.

 

On a walk along a forest road near my mother-in-law's place, I found several specimens of what we can call the poor man's giraffe weevil - the hazel-leaf roller weevil (Apoderus coryli). Just look at it - apart from the extremely long neck, it really looks the part.

 

These guys have a cool behaviour of their own. The female rolls up a hazel leaf and then lay her eggs inside them. I actually noticed some rolled up leaves on my walk, but didn't know what they were and unfortunately didn't bother with taking a photo of one.

 

Part 1 here: www.flickr.com/photos/tinyturtle/52198922011/

 

Part 2 here: www.flickr.com/photos/tinyturtle/52217299792/

 

Part 3 here: www.flickr.com/photos/tinyturtle/52286805687/

 

A short video of this weevil in the palm of my hand, please have a look here: www.flickr.com/photos/tinyturtle/52288266315/

Done