Straight-snouted weevils (Brentidae) are a fascinating family of insects defined by their incredibly long, straight snouts (rostra). Males use theirs as a weapon to joust with rivals for mating territory, while females use theirs as a specialized drill to bore deep holes into wood for egg-laying. This particular straight-snouted weevil (Brentus caudatus) is characterized by an elongated, tail-like abdomen extending from the rear of its body. The larvae spend their early lives as wood-borers inside dead or dying timber in tropical forests; by breaking down decaying biomass, they serve as a crucial part of forest nutrient cycling. As adults, they use their specialized snouts to graze on fungi growing inside rotting wood. I met this prehistoric-looking marvel in the “La Perla” protected forest in Ecuador’s Santo Domingo province.