No abstract

A novel host shift and invaded range of a seed predator, Acanthoscelides macrophthalmus (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Abstract An endophagous seed predator, Acanthoscelides macrophthalmus (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Bruchinae), utilizes Neotropical Leucaena (Fabaceae: Mimosoideae). One of its hosts, Leucaena leucocephala, is a fast-growing nitrogen-fixing tree that serves as a multipurpose beneficial plant but eventually becomes an aggressive invader where it was introduced. Herein, we report A. macrophthalmus invasion of the Far East, South Asian tropics and subtropics (Japanese Pacific Islands, Taiwan, Southern China, Northern Thailand and Southern India). Of other field-collected mimosoid legumes, an introduced tree, Falcataria moluccana, in Taiwan was found to be used by the seed predator. Conversely, our published work review revealed that the seed predator had retained high host specificity to Leucaena species in its native and introduced regions. Acanthoscelides macrophthalmus was able to utilize aphagously postharvest mature seeds for oviposition and larval development, which is a trait of post-dispersal seed predators. We confirmed that A. macrophthalmus that was reared on L. leucocephala was able to utilize F. moluccana as well. Although the relatively high host specificity of the oligophagous beetle is suitable for controlling the weedy L. leucocephala, the potential host range expansion confirmed by this study must be cautioned.

Four new species, Cruddasia craibii, Flemingia kradungensis, F. tiliacea and Pueraria maesenii are described and illustrated. The following new combinations are proposed: Cruddasia pinnata; C. laotica, Dolichos grahamianus; D. oxyphyllus; Dolichovigna pilosa; Erythrina stricta var. suberosa; Flemingia macrophylla var. sootepensis; Pueraria candollei var. mirifica; Shuteria suffulta var. sinensis and Vigna radiata var. grandiflora. Pueraria rigens is moved to the tribe Millettieae (=Mellettia rigens).