Friend or foe? The arrival of Stator limbatus (Bruchidae) in South Africa

Stator limbatus is a generalist seed-feeding beetle (Coleoptera: Bruchidae) whose natural range extends from the southern USA to Latin America. Individuals have recently been collected in the Western Cape province of South Africa in seeds of the invasive alien plant species Acacia mearnsii and A. cyclops. This study conducted a preliminary examination of its oviposition preference, and development on, a number of indigenous and invasive alien Acacia species and the invasive alien Paraserianthes lophantha (all Fabaceae). Oviposition preference appears to be for larger seeds but A. ataxacantha was found to be the only indigenous host suitable for larval development