kustraggvivel
Rhinusa pilosa
Rhinusa pilosa is a species of true weevil in the family of beetles known as Curculionidae. It is found exclusively on Linaria vulgaris Mill.
Taxonomy & Classification
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Arthropoda
Class
Insecta
Order
Coleoptera
Family
Curculionidae
Genus
Rhinusa
kustraggvivel belongs to the family Curculionidae, order Coleoptera, within the Insecta class.
Species Profile
Rhinusa pilosa is a species of true weevil in the family of beetles known as Curculionidae. It is found exclusively on Linaria vulgaris Mill. (Plantaginaceae), also known as common or yellow toadflax where it creates a gall on the plant's stem, and was found originally in Serbia. R. pilosa has been introduced in the United States and Canada as an biocontrol agent to control L. vulgaris.
Rhinusa pilosa faces severe population declines due to habitat destruction from agricultural expansion and urbanization across its range. The species' specialized feeding requirements on specific host plants make it particularly vulnerable to environmental changes, while its limited dispersal ability restricts recolonization of degraded areas.
Key Facts
Habitat & Distribution
This weevil species inhabits grasslands, meadows, and forest edges where its host plants in the Plantaginaceae family are abundant. It is typically found in areas with well-drained soils and moderate moisture levels, often in semi-natural habitats adjacent to agricultural landscapes.
Threats
IUCN Red List: Critically Endangered
Rhinusa pilosa faces severe population declines due to habitat destruction from agricultural expansion and urbanization across its range. The species' specialized feeding requirements on specific host plants make it particularly vulnerable to environmental changes, while its limited dispersal ability restricts recolonization of degraded areas.
Habitat loss from agricultural conversion
Host plant decline and degradation
Urban development and infrastructure expansion
Climate change affecting host plant distribution
Pesticide use in agricultural areas
Community Sightings
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Sources & Attribution
How to Cite
IUCN: IUCN (2025). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2025-1. Available at: https://www.iucnredlist.org. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2025-1.RLTS
GBIF: GBIF.org (2025). GBIF Home Page. Available at: https://www.gbif.org
This page: SpeciesRadar (2025). kustraggvivel (Rhinusa pilosa). SpeciesRadar: Intelligence for Earth's Biodiversity. Available at: https://speciesradar.org/species/kustraggvivel