Seed Destruction in Indigobush Amorpha by a Seed Beetle

Abstract

The seed pods of indigobush amorpha (Amorpha fruticosa L.) in Knox County, Texas, are heavily infested with a bruchid (Acanthoscelides collusus Fall). Although A. collusus may destroy about half of the amorpha seeds, its potential for maximum seed destruction is lowered by a parasitoid, Horismenus productus (Ashmead). About 5% of the immature seed beetles are parasitized.