Mimosestes obscuriceps (Sharp), 1885, 1978

Napoles, Romero, de, Aracely, Cruz & Kingsolver, John M., 2009, Seed beetles (Coleoptera: Bruchidae) associated with Acacia cornigera (L.) Willd., with description of a new species of Acanthoscelides Schilsky, Insecta Mundi 2009 (93), pp. 1-11 : 8

Mimosestes obscuriceps (Sharp), 1885

This species is one of the largest in the genus and similar in appearance to Acanthoscelides . However, both genera can be separated by characters given in the key. It is difficult to collect specimens of M. obscuriceps in the field, due to the complex of species that feed on A. cornigera , and because of its low number of host plants. Yet, in a sample of five A. cornigera pods collected at Microondas, km 161 carr. fed. Catemaco-Acayucan, Veracruz, Mexico, 22/IX/2007, we found 13 specimens of M. obscuriceps and only two specimens of A. sauli . The determination of M. obscuriceps was easy because the prosternum separates procoxae for their entire length and the pattern of pubescence is typical.

Host plants. OLD RECORDS: Acacia cornigera (L.) Willd. and Vachellia sphaerocephala (Schltdl. and Cham.) Seigler and Ebinger. NEW RECORDS: Acacia collinsii Saff. ; Carr. fed. al Ceibo, Tenosique, Tabasco, Mexico, 17/VII/2007, 12 m, De la Cruz P.A.

Distribution. OLD RECORDS: Honduras and Mexico (Chiapas, Tamaulipas, Tabasco, and Veracruz).