Five New Species Of Meibomeus Bridwell From The New World With Host Records For Them And Six Named Species (Coleoptera: Bruchidae)

The five new species, Meibomeus dirli, M. jacki, M. juarez, M. kirki, and M. rodneyi, are described. The taxonomic relationships between the new species of Meibomeus Bridwell and named species are discussed. Valuable new taxonomic characters used are basal or apical metasternal spines in some species.

Host plants are reported for the five new species and for the named species Meibomeus apicicornis (Pic), M. howdeni Kingsolver and Whitehead, M. mitchelli Kingsolver and Whitehead, M. panamensis Kingsolver and Whitehead, M. ptinoides (Sharp), and M. surrubresus (Pic). The hosts of all known species of Meibomeus are compiled. All hosts are in the Fabaceae, subfamily Papilionoideae.

About 60% of the hosts are in the genus Desmodium Desv. Species in the genera Desmodium, Aeschynomene L., Lespedeza Michx., Indigofera L., and Coursetia DC. are reported to have their seeds fed upon by species of Meibomeus.