Giraffe Weavel Glass dome display male Entomology taxidermy Oddity craft gift

n32e box 29  This boy has quite a way of sticking his neck out!  This is a Giraffe weevil that is nicely showcased in a glass dome with wood base and mounted to an acrylic post. This is approx. 2 x 1 1/4" and would be a great addition to any collection or used for educational purposes.  

Species and fun facts- TRACHELOPHORUS  Giraffa male

The giraffe weevil (Trachelophorus giraffa) is a weevil endemic to Madagascar. It derives its name from an extended neck much like that of the common giraffe. The giraffe weevil is sexually dimorphic, with the neck of the male typically being 2 to 3 times the length of that of the female. Most of the body is black with distinctive red elytra covering the flying wings. The total body length of the males is just under an inch (2.5 cm), among the longest for any attelabid species. The extended neck is an adaptiation that assists in nest building and fighting. When it comes time to breed, the mother-to-be will roll and secure a leaf of the host plant, Dichaetanthera cordifolia and Dichaetanthera arborea (a small tree in the family Melastomataceae), and then lay a single egg within the tube. She will then snip the roll from the remaining leaf in preparation of the egg hatching.