Researchers discover secret of weevil diamond-like coat
(PhysOrg.com) -- The diamond weevil (Entimus imperialis), also called sometimes as the Australian weevil, is a bug known throughout Australia as a pest, (another close relative resides in South America) as are most weevils in other parts of the world. What sets the diamond weevil apart though is its interesting appearance. Though they have a longer snout than most weevils, which allows them to embed their eggs deeply into plant chambers, that’s not what go them their name; instead, it’s the remarkable coat they seem to wear on their backs. It’s all black save for the rows of pits filled with what look like little diamonds. And not only do they look like diamonds, they act like them too, dazzling onlookers by reflecting light in a brilliant display of color that is eerily reminiscent of jewelry worn by us humans. But of course, they aren’t real diamonds, that would require...
