About Larinus onopordi (J.C.Fabricius, 1787)
Larinus onopordi, also called the globe thistle capitulum weevil, is a species of true weevil belonging to the genus Larinus. This species is native to regions surrounding the Mediterranean Sea. Larinus onopordi is univoltine, meaning it produces only one generation per year. Female weevils lay their eggs inside the capitulum, or flowerhead, of globe thistles, primarily the species Echinops sphaerocephalus, Echinops orientalis, and Echinops pungens. Weevil larvae develop within the capitulum, where they feed on and destroy the thistle’s seeds. Pupation takes place in late summer, and new adult weevils emerge a few days after pupation begins. The braconid wasp Bracon facialis has been successfully reared from the pupal stage of Larinus onopordi.
