Naupactus leucoloma Boheman, 1840

Matsunaga, Janis N., Howarth, Francis G. & Kumashiro, Bernarr R., 2019, New State Records and Additions to the Alien Terrestrial Arthropod Fauna in the Hawaiian Islands, Proceedings of the Hawaiian Entomological Society 51 (1), pp. 1-71 : 5

Naupactus leucoloma Boheman

The white-fringed weevil, Naupactus leucoloma , was first detected swarming outside of a homeowner’s porch, near pasture land on the Big Island. This species was reported by Conant (2013), however collection data for this new state record is reported here.

N. leucoloma and Atrichonotus taeniatulus , were both collected in and around North Hawaii island ranchlands and cattle pastures of Waimea and Kohala. These species are well known pests of alfalfa ( Medicago sativa , Fabaceae ) and other legumes used as cattle graze in pastures. In addition, N. leucoloma is a polyphagous pest of over three-hundred known species of agricultural crops, pastures, ornamentals, and other plant species where they are established [Southern United States, Central and South America , Australia , New Zealand, and South Africa ( Walker 2006)]. Some hosts recorded in literature include Brassica spp. , Glycine max , Citrullus lanatus , Solanum lycopersicum , Ipomoea batatas , and Zea mays . Adult weevils feed on the foliage of hosts, while larvae cause the greatest damage by feeding on roots in the soil ( Capinera 2008). Both A. taeniatulus and N. leucoloma have fused elytra and are therefore limited in dispersal capabilities by crawling and human aided hitchhiking.

Collection records: HAWAII, Waimea , 3.VIII.2013, ex. at large, congregating outside home near pasture, coll. P. Conant, det. L. Chamorro, 30.X.2013; Waimea, 10.IX.2013, ex. Amaranthus spinosus , coll. S. Chun, M. Fukada, R. Curtiss, det. B. Kumashiro, IX.2013. Vouchers at HDOA .