Page 153 - Design in Nature

Design and Creation 151

The Acorn Weevil and its Drilling Mechanism
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
An oak tree and acorns.
body. At the end of this snout, it has small
but extremely sharp saw like teeth.

At other times, the insect holds this
snout horizontal, in line with its body, so
that it does not interfere when it walks.
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. The head of
the insect is of a perfect design for the job
and displays an extraordinary level of
flexibility.
While drilling with its snout, it also
feeds on the fruit inside the acorn.
However, it saves the largest portion for its offspring. After drilling, the

insect leaves a single egg in the acorn, dropping it there through the hole.
Inside the acorn, the egg becomes a larva and starts eating it. The more the
larva eats, the more it grows; the more it grows, the more it eats.
This feeding continues until the acorn falls from the branch, which is

Larva of the acorn weevil.