Pupal cases (?) for identification

mickmassie · #1 (**permalink**) 08-06-2009, 09:24 AM

We found a number of these on riverside vegetation at Hampton Court yesterday. Any ideas what they are ?

M.

poschiavanus · #2 (**permalink**) 08-06-2009, 02:48 PM

Think these belong to a weevil. Certainly weevils in the genus Hypera do something similar.

mickmassie · #3 (**permalink**) 08-06-2009, 06:10 PM

I think you may well have hit the spot, thanks.
Mike Morris True Weevils says there are 16 species of Hypera in Britain, with a large range of foodplants (not including Gypsywort specifically).

On the family Hyperinae he says "They pupate in cocoons, of two types ... 'latticed' open to the air ...and 'closed'."

Hypera rumicis, associated with docks, has a lattice type cocoon and might be a candidate. I'll try an rear some out.

Cheers, Mick.

mickmassie · #4 (**permalink**) 12-06-2009, 05:38 PM

This is what hatched out. Hard to believe something so perfect. As poschiavanus correctly predicted, it looks like a Hypera weevil. I now have to try to work out which one. The key is daunting unless you are well practised (I am not).