Bird Poop Weevil / Bird-dropping Weevil
Scientific Name: Mesonychium species (specifically Clytomyias or similar genera)
Order & Family: Order Coleoptera, Family Curculionidae
Size: 3mm to 10mm in length depending on the specific species.
Natural Habitat
Typically found on host plants in temperate and tropical forests, gardens, and shrublands.
Diet & Feeding
Strictly herbivorous; larvae often bore into plant stems or roots, while adults feed on foliage or fruit.
Behavior Patterns
Utilizes aggressive mimicry (crypsis) by resembling a bird dropping to avoid predation by birds and other sight-oriented predators. They often remain motionless for long periods during the day.
Risks & Benefits
Generally harmless to humans. While they may cause minor aesthetic damage to garden plants, they serve as a food source for larger invertebrates and are fascinating examples of evolutionary camouflage.
Identified on: 4/19/2026