AN ADDITIONAL CHARACTER FOR SEXING THE ADULTS OF THE DRIED BEAN BEETLE ACANTHOSCELIDES-OBTECTUS (SAY) (COLEOPTERA, BRUCHIDAE)

Observations made on adult A. obtectus showed that sexual dimorphism o ccurs in the pubescence of the pygidium and this can be used to sex th e beetles with a fair degree of accuracy. The male has comparatively s parse grey or white and more or less even pubescence revealing the bro wn cuticle of the pygidium, whereas the pubescence of the female pygid ium is less even being slightly denser laterally and in the midline an d thus leaving two narrow bands or four small patches of brown cuticle more exposed than the rest. This character and the previously describ ed ones are illustrated.