First record of Acanthoscelides macrophthalmus (Schaeffer) (Coleoptera: Bruchidae) in Cyprus

A bruchid beetle was emerged from the seeds of Leucaena leucocephala (syn. Leucaena glauca Benth., Family Mimosaceae). This endophagous seed predator was identified as Acanthoscelides macrophthalmus (Schaeffer) (Coleoptera: Bruchidae). Seed specimens were collected from L. leucocephala at the Nicosia district (35° 11'N., 33° 23'E). The identification took place at the Agricultural University of Athens where specimens are stored. The insect was identified by morphological traits according to methods described by Kingsolver (2004). Body length is 2.93.8mm and width 1.8-2.0mm. Adults fly readily when disturbed. The integument color is red, occasionally with diffuse piceous marginal shading on elytra (Fig. 1). Vestiture is of fine dark brown, gray, and golden setae in pattern. Head and pronotum are golden with little or no pattern (Fig. 1). The length of the elytra is slightly longer than the width of the two elytra together. Eggs are laid either on the Leucaena pod surface, over a seed, or directly on exposed seeds (Walton 2003). They are less than 1mm in length. The larva hatches and chews into the seed. In the seed, larva passes through all its molts until the adult bruchid emerges. The characteristic circular escape hole can be seen in pods that have matured and dried out (Walton 2003). According to FIG. 1. Dorsal and lateral view of A. macrophthalmus.