About Rhynchodes ursus White, 1846
This weevil species, Rhynchodes ursus White, 1846, was originally described by White based on adult specimens. White's original description notes the following features: overall deep brown colour; the thorax bears two lighter-coloured longitudinal bands close to its sides; elytra have five rows of hairs on their upper surface, with a row of very deep punctures on each side of these rows, and a smoothish ridge between every two punctures; two obscure dark brown bands cross the elytra; legs are black, with a spot of yellowish brown hairs at the upper end of each femur; the last abdominal segment on the underside has two tufts of hair. The original description recorded a total length of 10 1/2 lines. This is a large weevil, with the general deep brown base colour and two lighter lateral bands on the thorax matching White's original description. Its legs are black, with a yellowish-brown hair spot on each femur. Dense scales, which can be hair-like, cover the weevil's body. Antennae insertion position differs by sex: in females, antennae are inserted halfway along the rostrum, while in males they are inserted closer to the front of the rostrum. This species shows considerable variation in size, overall colour, and the amount and form of its hair-like scales. Males are covered in short scale-like hairs, while females have longer, shaggier scale-like hairs that can be deep brown or grey. Old individuals are sometimes found that are completely black and shiny, and nearly entirely lack any scales. Larvae of R. ursus can be told apart from other weevil larvae by their large size, and by the broad, rounded ends of their premedial exoskeletal plates. This species is endemic to New Zealand, and occurs across the whole country.
