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Species of Xystus Schönherr (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Baridinae) are Seed Predators of Wild Yams (Dioscoreaceae) in Central Mexico

Several species of wild yams, “camote de cerro”, Dioscorea spp. (Dioscoreales: Dioscoreaceae), are native to the mountains that surround Lake Chapala in the states of Jalisco and Michoacán. These are harvested in the field by the rural populace and command a high price in local markets. The sale of wild yams is an important source of income for the harvesters (“camoteros”), the numbers of which are increasing (Andrés-Agustín 1996; Mostul and Cházaro 1996). This has raised concern that natural regeneration of wild yam populations may not be sufficient to satisfy present or future demands. To address this concern, a project was initiated by the Centro Interdisciplinario de Investigación para el Desarrollo Integral Regional, Jiquilpan,Michoacán, to locate populations of wild yams in Jalisco and Michoacán and determine important biotic variables and estimate the sustainable extraction levels. The study was carried out in 2007 and 2008, consisting of explorations of the regions surrounding Lake Chapala at altitudes of 1,684 to 2,148 m to locate populations of Dioscorea spp. The vegetation included middle and low stature tropical deciduous forests, tropical scrub, and oak forests at the highest altitudes. Insects associated with plants were collected and labeled as to location and plant species. Samples were taken weekly of flower buds and fruits during 2008 and examined in the laboratory. One of the most common and apparently important insect herbivores of wild yams of the region was species of Xystus Schönherr (Curculionidae: Baridinae: Apostasimerini [Prena 2009]). Two species were found and identified: Xystus gracilirostris (Champion) and Xystus pallidipennis (Champion). Xystus gracilirostris has been previously reported fromHonduras andMexico, whereas X. pallidipennis is known only from Mexico (O’Brien and Wibmer 1982). Based on literature searches, these are the first host records known for these species. This is not the first record of Xystus on Dioscorea, however, as Santos (2002) reports Xystus arnoldi (Kirby) on cultivated species of Dioscorea in Brazil. Adult weevils were found externally on plants (Fig. 1), and eggs and larvae were within fruit capsules of Dioscorea sparsiflora Kunth and Discorea remotiflora Robinson. Weevils were found only on female plants of these dioecious species. Both X.