Senna multijuga Rich. I. & B. (Caesalpinaceae) is an ornamental tree common in southeastern Brazil. To quantify the seed damage of bruchine species in this host plant, fruits were collected from 31 March to 30 May 2000 and stored in greenhouse, until emergence of the bruchines, which were then identified. Emerged beetles in these samples were 67% Sennius crudelis Ribeiro-Costa & Reynaud, 20% Sennius puncticollis (Fåhraeus) and < 1% Sennius nappi Ribeiro-Costa & Reynaud. Finally, 62% of seeds were undamaged, 26% were empty, 12% were damaged and the sum of empty and damaged seeds was 38%. Considering that other factors decrease seed germination, as pathogens and unfavorable weather conditions, this last pencentage may be very expressive. On the other hand, S. multijuga probably is related with strategies of dispersion and escape from predators as the small and numerous seed crops, which can minimize the losses caused by insect seed eaters. Here we highlight the need to study more fruitfication phases and to conduct germination seed tests to better understand the influence of Bruchinae predation on the S. multijuga reproductive capacity.
Bruchinae; Sennius; seed damage
