International Journal of Entomology Research

Authors
Sonali Verma, Monika Malik, Parveen Kumar, Darshna Choudhary, PK Jaiwal, Ranjana Jaiwal

Abstract
Beetles belonging to the Callosobruchus genus are of economic importance due to their ability to feed on various legume crops in the field and during storage. The ovipositional preference and adult longevity of the three bruchid species, i.e. Callosobruchus maculatus F., Callosobruchus chinensis L. and Callosobruchus analis F. were evaluated on the four grain legume crops, Vigna radiata (mung bean), Vigna mungo (black gram), Vigna unguiculata (cowpea) and Cicer arietinum (green gram). The legume grains differed in their susceptibility to infestation with bruchids. The longevity of the beetles was not affected and nearly remained the same, i.e. 10-18 days for all the three species of Callosobruchus on all the pulses. The longevity of the bruchid beetles decreased with increase in temperature. Maximum longevity occurred at 30°C, while at and above 42°C the development was seized. The longest developmental period of bruchid beetles was nearly 80-85 days at the lowest temperature, i.e. 18°C and the shortest was 23 days for Callosobruchus chinensis at 30°C on mung bean. The bruchid infestation diminishes the seed germination ability and seedling growth potential of all the species of legumes.