the Philippines, principally Luzon and nearby islands
Fine-art photographic collection
Pachyrhynchus reticulatus
A flightless armoured weevil whose jewel-like scales are copied by completely unrelated beetles.
About this species
Pachyrhynchus reticulatusG. R. Waterhouse, 1841
Information reviewed15 July 2026
Pachyrhynchus reticulatus is a Philippine broad-nosed weevil. Like other Pachyrhynchus it has fused wing covers and cannot fly, but its hard body and brilliant scale pattern form part of a famous island radiation and mimicry system.
Taxonomy
Animalia · Arthropoda · Insecta · Coleoptera · Curculionidae · Pachyrhynchus
Accepted taxon. · checked 2026-07-15
the Philippines, principally Luzon and nearby islandsBroad range and selected reference localities — not a complete occurrence map.
Tropical forest and forest-edge vegetation on Philippine islands.
Adults move slowly over leaves, stems and branches.
Foliage and other plant tissue; host use varies among populations and related species.
Solitary.
What makes this species remarkable?
The elytra are fused into a rigid shell and the beetle is completely flightless, trading aerial escape for exceptionally strong armour.
Its brilliant pattern is made from microscopic scales, and winged Doliops longhorn beetles imitate similar markings to share the protection of the armoured model.
Loss of flight helped isolate populations on individual Philippine islands, driving a spectacular radiation of local colours and forms.