Submission 2025
| Submitted by: | Jake Lewis |
| Department: | Biological Sciences |
| Faculty: | Science |
Weevils are a group of plant-feeding beetles that form one of the most species-rich and economically important animal families. Currently, there are approximately 62,000 described weevil species; however, scientists estimate that this represents only a quarter of the world’s total weevil species diversity. Weevil diversity is particularly understudied in tropical regions and in poorly sampled habitats, such as forest canopy, and new species are being discovered every year.
Featuring 53 weevil species from around the world, this montage illustrates the remarkable range of colors and forms found within this hyper-diverse beetle family. I study the diversity and evolution of weevils and have had the privilege of discovering, describing, and naming several of the species featured in the montage. The novelty of finding new species never fades, and the excitement of being the first person to observe an undescribed species is truly euphoric.
How many hidden gems still lie tucked away in the remote corners of the earth? Only time will tell!
Was your image created using Generative AI?
No.
How was your image created?
Many weevils are tiny (less than 2 mm) and require a microscope for detailed examination and photography. For this montage, I photographed individual weevil species against a white background with a specialized microscope and camera equipped with focus-stacking capabilities. Focus-stacking involves capturing 50–60 high-resolution images at different focal depths and combining them into a single, crystal-clear image. After capturing each stacked image, I removed any remaining background and combined them into the final montage in Adobe Photoshop.
Where is the image located?
N/A (specimens from museum collections around the world).