Biosystematics of the Genus 'Merobruchus' of Continental North America and the West Indies (Coleoptera: Bruchidae)

摘要

A diagnosis of the genus Merobruchus, a seed-feeding beetle family, is presented, including a key to species, synonymical names, geographical distribution, and host plant associations detailed for the 22 species now assigned to this genus for the United States, Mexico, Central America, and the West Indies. The following seven of these species are new to science: chetumialae, cristoensis, lysilomae, politus, porphyreus, triacanthus, and xanthopygus, Pseudopachymerus steinbachi Pic is a new synonym of Merobruchus pickeli (Pic) (new combination), and Pacymerus subuniformis Pic is a new synonym of Merobruchus bicoloripes (Pic), Bruchus flexicaulis Schaeffer is shown to be an available name and is provisionally synonymized with Merobruchus placidus (Horn) (new synonym). Illustrations of salient characters are provided for each species. All known host associations are with seeds of leguminous trees and shrubs in the subfamily Mimosoideae, mostly in genera Acacia, Lysiloma, and Pithecellobium. None of the species affect major agricultural crops, but they reduce the potential for regeneration of trees used for fuel, furniture, vegetable gums, tanbark, honey sources, and ornamental plantings.