Susceptibility of Three Legume Species to Callosobruchus maculatus (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) Attack and Impact of Rearing Medium on Female Oviposition Host Preference

Abstract

Experiments were conducted to determine the host preference of cowpea weevils Callosobruchus maculatus F. (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) using three pulses (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp., Vigna subterranea (L.) Verdc and Glycine max (L.) Merr.) and the susceptibility of these seeds to the beetle. Susceptibility was assessed using parameters like fecundity, developmental period and progeny production of bruchids. C. maculatus cultures were maintained separately on the three commodities for the host preference experiments and on cowpea for the susceptibility experiments. Seeds of each of the pulse species were introduced into partitioned petri dishes for the former and into glass jars for the latter experiments, and infested with C. maculatus. In the fecundity experiment, the maximum number of eggs was recorded on soybean and the minimum on cowpea. The developmental period of insects was two times longer in soybean than in cowpea and Bambara groundnut. Egg-toadult survivorship was highest for eggs laid on cowpea and lowest for those ones laid on soybean. Thus, Cowpea and Bambara groundnut are more susceptible to C. maculatus, whereas soybean is far less susceptible. In the choice experiment involving the three pulses, although there was an improvement in oviposition by C. maculates on their natal host. In stores containing cowpea and soybean, control measures for C. maculatus should target mainly cowpea. However, in storage facilities containing a mixture of pulses, control strategies should consider all the commodities since C. maculatus has the ability of better adapting to Bambara groundnut from cowpea and to soybean from Bambara groundnut.

Oviposition preference and life‐history parameters of Callosobruchus maculatus (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) on different soybean (Glycine max) cultivars

“…A population of C. maculatus reared in the laboratory for several generations on cowpea seeds was obtained from the Department of Plant Protection, University of Mohaghegh Ardabili, Ardabil, Iran. To prove the real differences in the physicochemical traits of tested soybean cultivars and their effects on oviposition behavior of C. maculatus , a homogenous original population of adult beetles that had been reared on cowpea seeds (as a nonexperimental host) was used in the oviposition preference trials, because previous experience can affect subsequent host choice behavior of adult insects 33–35 . In the life‐history and life‐table tests, to adapt the insects to soybean cultivars, they were reared for one generation on each soybean cultivar.…”

“…S1). 33 Ten seeds of the same size of each cultivar were placed into each section (one section per cultivar). The positions of the seeds were randomized between replicates.…”

“…To prove the real differences in the physicochemical traits of tested soybean cultivars and their effects on oviposition behavior of C. maculatus, a homogenous original population of adult beetles that had been reared on cowpea seeds (as a nonexperimental host) was used in the oviposition preference trials, because previous experience can affect subsequent host choice behavior of adult insects. [33][34][35] In the lifehistory and life-table tests, to adapt the insects to soybean cultivars, they were reared for one generation on each soybean cultivar. So, each of the eight tested cultivars resulted in eight populations of C. maculatus.…”

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

“…Mean comparison for No. of holes in seeds and weight loss percentage in different legumes due to Callosobruchus maculatus infestationKosini and Nukenine (2017) checked three legumes susceptibility against C. maculatus and reported maximum adult emergence from cowpea followed by groundnut and soybean. This study promotes to our results Shafique and Ahmad (2005).…”