11-10-2026 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - (TRUE WEEVIL Coniocleonus excoriatus)

Coniocleonus excoriatus is a species of true weevil belonging to the family Curculionidae and the subfamily Lixinae. Commonly known as a type of snout beetle or gorgojo in Spanish, it was first described by Leonard Gyllenhal in 1834.

Physical Characteristics

• Size: Adults typically measure around 10 to 14 mm in length.

• Appearance: It has a highly armored, robust, and elongated spindle-shaped body with a tough exoskeleton.

• Rostrum: Like other true weevils, its head features a distinctive snout (rostrum), which in this species is notably short and broad.

• Coloration: It possesses highly cryptic coloration ranging from gray to brown. Its elytra (wing covers) are marked with intricate geometric dark patterns, notably featuring two dark, somewhat trapezoidal or fish-tail-shaped spots along the mid-sutural line.

• Pronotum: The upper thorax (pronotum) exhibits distinctive, light-colored sub-lateral longitudinal lines that start behind the eyes and diverge outward.

Distribution and Habitat

The species is widely distributed across Central and Southern Europe, the Canary Islands, and North Africa. It is particularly common in sun-exposed, arid, and sandy areas of the Iberian Peninsula, such as the Spanish Mediterranean coast.

Ecology and Life Cycle

• Diet: Coniocleonus excoriatus is a plant-feeding (phytophagous) insect. Adults are typically found feeding on the leaves, stems, and flowers of large thistles, such as those from the genera Carduus, Cirsium, and Onopordum, as well as artichoke plants (Cynara). They are also documented interacting with certain weed species like Emex spinosa.

• Development: The larvae live ectophagously or develop inside the receptacles of thistle seed heads, making them specialized consumers of these host plants.