Development of pulse beetle Callosobruchus maculatus Fab. (Coleoptera: Bruchidae) in different pulses

Abstract

Development of pulse beetle (Callosobruchus maculatus Fab.) was studied on nine different pulses viz., mungbean, urdbean, mothbean, greenpea, cowpea, horsegram, chickpea, wal and pigeonpea under laboratory conditions. The study indicated that chickpea was most preferred host by C. maculatus as it recorded highest number of eggs (290.67/100 grains), shortest total developmental period (21.33 days) and highest number of adult emergence (163/100 grains), whereas horsegram was least preferred host as it recorded lowest number of eggs (23.67 / 100 grains), lowest number of adult emergence (4.33/ 100 grains) and shortest adult longevity (4 days). The highest adult longevity was recorded in wal (10 days) followed by chickpea and mungbean (9.33 days). In the case of the incubation period, mungbean and cowpea recorded shortest incubation period (2.67 days) and followed by chickpea, green pea and pigeonpea (3.33 days) whereas it was highest in urdbean (4.67 days) followed by horsegram (4.33 days). Percent adult emergence was lowest in the case of horsegram (18.29%) followed by mothbean (19.86%) and was highest in wal (74.92%).