An extinct giant weevil believed common in New Zealand's rimu forests prior to the introduction of the kiore or Pacific rat. Its 'sub-fossi' was turned up by bulldozers when the pumice landscape west of Lake Taupo was being prepared for planting in exotic forest. Generally fossil insects are hard to find because they have no bones. This insect was found in the remains of a rimu forest buried by the Taupo eruption, along with examples of several other well-preserved insects. The giant rimu weevil is about 23 mm long, and has never been collected alive. It is 'clearly another example of invertebrate extinction' according to the author.

Forest and Bird, Issue 294, 1 November 1999, Page 34

An extinct giant weevil believed common in New Zealand's rimu forests prior to the introduction of the kiore or Pacific rat. Its 'sub-fossi' was turned up by bulldozers when the pumice landscape west of Lake Taupo was being prepared for planting in exotic forest. Generally fossil insects are hard to find because they have no bones. This insect was found in the remains of a rimu forest buried by the Taupo eruption, along with examples of several other well-preserved insects. The giant rimu weevil is about 23 mm long, and has never been collected alive. It is 'clearly another example of invertebrate extinction' according to the author.