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Common Name: Pepper Weevil
Scientific Name: Anthonomus eugenii

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Coleoptera
Family: Curculioniade
Genus: Anthonomus
Species: A. eugenii 

 

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Pepper Weevils are such small animals. They tend to be 3mm long when born, and can get up to 6mm when are adults. Their bodies are covered with yellowish scales which gives the beetle a bold luster.

They were first found in in the USA in the early 1900’s. Then it spread to Mexico, Hawaii, and other parts of Central America. When it is winter they live under peppers or nightshade in warm areas. Every female lays about 200 eggs in buds and fruit over a 30 day period. They produce the most in the summer when it is most likely to be warm. The population of the Pepper Weevils is decreasing, because people are spaying poison on them.

 Pepper Weevils get their name from the peppers, they damage by eating. They really don’t have that much predators, but mostly it is the poison that kills them. Over 50% of all peppers are ruined by Pepper Weevils. Most farmers get a special type of poison in order to kill them which I agree is the right thing to do.

Pepper Weevils are amazing and both irritating animals if you come to think of it. They ruin crops, can set farmers out of business, and they can easily hide their larva’s.  Once they lay their larva’s they can spread everywhere and can spread their larva’s everywhere. Pepper Weevils are one interesting type of insects.

Author: Hany M.
Date Published: 2/2012

Sources:http://entnemdept.ufl.edu/creatures/veg/beetle/pepper_weevil.htm
http://www.bugwood.org/factsheets/99-005.htm


Photo Credit: http://bugguide.net/node/view/249721

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