Predation of seeds of Cassia fistula L. (Fabaceae) by Bruchinae

Abstract

Predation of seeds by bruquines can affect the development and viability of tree species. The objective of this study was to identify seed predator species of Cassia fistula L. (Fabaceae) used in the urban arborization of Sinop, Mato Grosso, as well as to evaluate the percentage of seed predation in relation to phenological phase and fruit size. One hundred fruits of C. fistula, from ten adult trees, located in the urban perimeter, were evaluated. In the laboratory the fruits were opened and the seeds classified according to their appearance, in healthy or predated. Pygiopachymerus lineola (Chevrolat, 1871) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Bruchinae), was the only species found preying on the seeds of C. fistula. Seed analysis suggests a low level of predation by the insect. The relationship between fruit length and seed predation percentage was not observed and Cassia fistula can be considered a viable species for urban tree growing in Sinop, MT.

Consumo de semillas de Cassia fistula (Fabacea: Malvaeae) por Echinosciurus aureogaster (Rodentia: Sciuridae) en Puerto Escondido, Oaxaca, México

“…Hasta ahora, solo se ha reportado el consumo de semillas de C. fistula por coleópteros (Chrysomelidae: Bruchinae) en Brasil (Freitas et al 2018), por lo que el presente trabajo representa el primer registro del consumo de la semilla de esta especie por una especie de mamífero del Neotrópico. Además, aportamos el registro de un nuevo item de alimentación a la dieta de S. aureogaster, recordando que la dieta resulta de la selección del sitio donde los animales buscan los recursos (uso de hábitat) y la selección del alimento a consumir entre los que están disponibles (Brown & Morgan 1995).…”