We often see in forest or in orchards throughout the world hang small objects that look like cigars or spring rolls.
They are the work of leaf-rolling weevils,small beetles that deposit their eggs inside rolled-up leaves.The females of many species of weevil roll leaves in a certain way after cutting the leaf in precise spots,which makes the job easier.The tightly rolled leaves provide both a safe place for the eggs to develop and a ready source of food when the weevils hatch.some species place many eggs in a roll,while others create a nest for only one egg.
*A common leaf-roller female starts by cutting a notch on side of a beech leaf.
*The leaf roller makes the same cut on the opposit side,stopping at the centre.
*The leaf wilts in a few minutes,allowing the weevil to begin the rolling process.
*The weevil walks the lenght of the leaf pressing the two halves together.
*Winding begins at the tip.The weevil uses its legs to pull the leaf toward its body.
*The weevil makes a slit and lays an egg inside,then winds the leaf further and seal it.
*The weevil bites the leaf to make winding easier.Its left legs pull the leaf toward its body,its right legs wind the leaf into a roll.
*Using its legs on one side,the weevil starts to cover the end of the roll.
*The weevil completes the nest by tucking the final piece in place.
*The finished nest is tightly rolled and sealed.The same nest cut in half reveals a single egg inside.when the larva hatches from the egg,it eats its way through the many layers of the leaf.
*The weevil moves to a new leaf to start another nest.
*Leaf-rolling weevils show a variety of techniques for building their nest.Some cut leaves in such a way that the leaves roll themselves into the proper shape.
Other use vines to tie the roll together.
Certain species secrete a glue that they use to keep the nest from unwinding.
They are the work of leaf-rolling weevils,small beetles that deposit their eggs inside rolled-up leaves.The females of many species of weevil roll leaves in a certain way after cutting the leaf in precise spots,which makes the job easier.The tightly rolled leaves provide both a safe place for the eggs to develop and a ready source of food when the weevils hatch.some species place many eggs in a roll,while others create a nest for only one egg.
*A common leaf-roller female starts by cutting a notch on side of a beech leaf.
*The leaf roller makes the same cut on the opposit side,stopping at the centre.
*The leaf wilts in a few minutes,allowing the weevil to begin the rolling process.
*The weevil walks the lenght of the leaf pressing the two halves together.
*Winding begins at the tip.The weevil uses its legs to pull the leaf toward its body.
*The weevil makes a slit and lays an egg inside,then winds the leaf further and seal it.
*The weevil bites the leaf to make winding easier.Its left legs pull the leaf toward its body,its right legs wind the leaf into a roll.
*Using its legs on one side,the weevil starts to cover the end of the roll.
*The weevil completes the nest by tucking the final piece in place.
*The finished nest is tightly rolled and sealed.The same nest cut in half reveals a single egg inside.when the larva hatches from the egg,it eats its way through the many layers of the leaf.
*The weevil moves to a new leaf to start another nest.
*Leaf-rolling weevils show a variety of techniques for building their nest.Some cut leaves in such a way that the leaves roll themselves into the proper shape.
Other use vines to tie the roll together.
Certain species secrete a glue that they use to keep the nest from unwinding.
