Attraction of <<I>Callosobruchus maculates</I> fabricius (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Bruchinae) to pods of cowpea plants at different developmental stages

Abstract

The cowpea beetle, Callosobruchus maculatus Fab. is an economically important pest of stored grain and causes serious damage to stored peas. The application of pesticides has been the generic control measure due to its effectiveness, affordability and ease of application. However, due to the apparent health and environmental consequences with pesticides, stakeholders are advocating for an alternative management approach that has less social and environmental impact and is more sustainable. Consequently, this study examined the attraction of mated female to volatile blends collected from pods of cowpea plants (Borno-brown and black-eyed cultivars) at three developmental stages developing podsie; 15-17 days after anthesis (daa), fully developed pods (18-20 daa) and mature pods (&gt; 20 daa). The beetles’ responses to the pods’ odour were determined using a two-arm olfactometer, and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) was used to identify and quantify the volatile compounds collected from the pods. The results showed that female C. maculatus attraction increased with the pod’s age, and that the composition and abundance of volatile compounds varied between cowpea cultivars and the pod’s developmental stage. These findings form an important bases towards developing alternative approach for the management of bruchids.&#x0D; Key words: volatile compounds, cowpea plants, GC-MS, pod’s developmental stage, days after anthesis

Consumers’ aversion to food safety risk associated with cowpea storage In Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria

“…Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp), also known as bean, is a lower-cost vital source of protein and other needed nutrients in Nigeria, and therefore an essential part of a nutritious diet for households (Adomi et al, 2023). A major challenge, however, encountered in the cowpea chain is loss in storage due to damage caused by weevil (Bruchid) called Callosobruchus maculates (Ahuchaogu and Ojiako, 2020). In the bid to reduce weevil induced postharvest loss, cowpea marketers in Nigeria employ various strategies, including the use of aluminum phosphide, organochlorine, organophosphate pesticides, and unconventional pesticides which are not classified or accepted as food preservatives.…”

Pesticidal Potential of Essential Oils Against Callosobruchus maculatus Fab. (Coleoptera: Bruchidae) under Laboratory Conditions

“…It is a serious, multi-voltine and most destructive cosmopolitan pest of pulses like cowpea, lentils, black gram, green gram, and chickpea in Asian and African countries (Boeke et al, 2004;Muntaha et al, 2017). The damage of C. maculatus starts from the standing crop in the field and the same will carry with the produce even during the storage in godowns (Ahuchaogu and Ojiako, 2020;Seth et al, 2017). During storage, C. maculatus can cause 100% damage of pulse seeds (Gbaye et al, 2011), whereas its average losses can range between 20-30 and 5-10% in tropical and temperate countries, respectively (Kiradoo and Srivastava, 2010).…”

Screening of different legumes for the developmental preference of Callosobruchus maculatus (Bruchidae: Coleoptera)

“…C. maculatus is a serious pest of the grains of legumes crops in Asia and Africa (Ajayi and Lale 2001;Ogunwolu and Idowu 1994). C. maculatus damage begins from the field leading to storage conditions (Ahuchaogu and Ojiako 2020;Nyamador et al 2017). During February to August, C. maculatus causes the highest infestation when all the stages survive at the same time (Tapondjou et al 2002).…”