Acanthoscelides

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Acanthoscelides
Acanthoscelides obtectus
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Coleoptera
Infraorder: Cucujiformia
Family: Chrysomelidae
Subfamily: Bruchinae
Tribe: Bruchini
Genus: Acanthoscelides
Schilsky, 1905
Species

300+, see text

Acanthoscelides is a genus of bean weevils of the subfamily Bruchinae. They are native to the New World. About one third of them can be found in Mexico.[1]

In 1946 this genus was populated with at least 322 species transferred from other genera, mainly Bruchus. Some of these were later placed into other genera.[2] Estimates of the current number of named species range from about 300[3] to 340,[1] and there are over 200 undescribed species.[1]

These beetles are generally 1.1 to 3.5 millimeters long. They have large, protruding eyes, and males often have larger eyes than females. They sometimes also have longer antennae.[2] The elytra are about twice as long as they are wide.[1] The beetles of this genus are diverse and the characters used to classify them are not well defined;[2] historically, Acanthoscelides is a wastebasket taxon, "used as a genus into which species are placed that do not fit within the limits of other genera".[1]

Most of these beetles feed on legumes. The majority specialize on Faboideae, many on Mimosoideae, and fewer on Caesalpinioideae. Some are known from non-legume host plants, such as mallows.[3]

Familiar species include Acanthoscelides obtectus, a worldwide pest of beans,[4] and Acanthoscelides macrophthalmus, which is employed as an agent of biological pest control against the invasive tree Leucaena leucocephala.[5]

Species[edit]

Species include:[2][6]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e Nápoles, J. R. and J. M. Kingsolver. (2009). A new species of Acanthoscelides Schilsky (Coleoptera: Bruchidae) from Mexico with some biological notes. Neotropical Entomology 38(4), 497-500.
  2. ^ a b c d Kingsolver, J. M. Handbook of the Bruchidae of the United States and Canada (Insecta, Coleoptera), Volume I. Technical Bulletin 1912. USDA ARS. 2004. pg. 89.
  3. ^ a b Alvarez, N., et al. (2006). Phylogenetic relationships in the Neotropical bruchid genus Acanthoscelides (Bruchinae, Bruchidae, Coleoptera). Journal of Zoological Systematics and Evolutionary Research 44(1) 63-74.
  4. ^ Acanthoscelides obtectus (Say). Canadian Grain Commission.
  5. ^ Egli, D. and T. Olckers. (2012). Oviposition patterns and egg mortality in Acanthoscelides macrophthalmus (Chrysomelidae: Bruchinae), a biological control agent of Leucaena leucocephala (Fabaceae) in South Africa. African Entomology 20(1), 111-18.
  6. ^ Acanthoscelides. Integrated Taxonomic Information System.
  7. ^ Nápoles, J. R., et al. (2009). Seed beetles (Coleoptera: Bruchidae) associated with Acacia cornigera (L.) Willd., with description of a new species of Acanthoscelides Schilsky. Insecta Mundi 93 1-11.

External links[edit]

Wikispecies has information related to Acanthoscelides.
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