Snout works as drill: acorn weevil

The long snout of some acorn weevils can drill through acorns by using saw-like teeth and coordinated head movements.

Biomimicry Taxonomy

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Biomimetic Application Ideas

Machete blades with more cutting power, manual cutting tools or agricultural planting implements that require little energy input to function, well drilling equipment.

[Collapse all sections] Summary

"The acorn weevil lives on the acorns of an oak tree. There is a moderately long snout on the head of this insect, which is actually longer than its own body. At the end of this snout, it has small but extremely sharp saw like [sic] teeth…However, when it is on an acorn, it tilts this snout towards it. Then the insect looks very much like a drilling machine. It leans the saw-like teeth at the tip of its snout against the acorn. The insect turns its head from one side to the other, moving the snout, which starts to drill the acorn." (Yahya 2002:151)

About the inspiring organism

Curculio nucum
Curculio nucum Germar, E.F., 1821

Some organism data provided by: WTaxa: Electronic Catalogue of Weevil names (Curculionoidea)
Organism/taxonomy data provided by:
Species 2000 & ITIS Catalogue of Life: 2008 Annual Checklist

Bioinspired products and application ideas

Application Ideas: Machete blades with more cutting power, manual cutting tools or agricultural planting implements that require little energy input to function, well drilling equipment.

Industrial Sector(s) interested in this strategy: Landscaping, agriculture, water supply

References

Harun Yahya. 2002. Design in Nature. London: Ta-Ha Publishers Ltd. 180 p.

Snout works as drill: acorn weevil

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