Callosobruchus phaseoli

(Gyllenhal, 1833)

cowpea weevil, bean weevil

Callosobruchus phaseoli is a in the , Bruchinae, commonly known as the cowpea . to India, it has become a widespread pest of legume across tropical and subtropical regions worldwide. emerge from infested seeds and immediately mate, with females beginning -laying on the same day. The causes significant damage to stored legume seeds and is known to exhibit during larval development.

Callosobruchus phaseoli by K. Walker, Museum Victoria. Used under a CC BY 3.0 au license.Starr 020708-0005 Lablab sp. by Forest & Kim Starr. Used under a CC BY 3.0 license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Callosobruchus phaseoli: //kəˌloʊsoʊˈbruːkəs fæzɪˈoʊlaɪ//

These audio files are automatically generated. While they are not always 100% accurate, they are a good starting point.

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Habitat

Agricultural lands, facilities, and natural landscapes where legumes occur. Infests seeds both in field conditions and post-harvest storage.

Distribution

to India. and established across South and Central America, North America, Europe, Middle East (Israel), North Africa, Arabian Peninsula, Far East, China, Japan, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Burma, Philippines, Hawaiian Islands, Australia, Oceania, and Kazakhstan (first recorded in Almaty city). Predicted to spread further in southern and southeastern Kazakhstan.

Diet

Seeds of leguminous plants (Fabaceae).

Host Associations

  • Vigna angularis - adzuki bean
  • Vigna radiata - mung bean
  • Vigna unguiculata - cowpea
  • Vicia faba - broad bean
  • Pisum sativum - pea
  • Cajanus cajan - pigeon pea
  • Lablab purpureus - hyacinth bean
  • Wisteria sp. -
  • Phaseolus lunatus - lima bean
  • Phaseolus vulgaris - common bean
  • Cicer arietinum - chickpea
  • Sesbania sp. -
  • Crotalaria spectabilis - rattlepod
  • Lupinus sp. - lupine

Life Cycle

with , , , and stages. Larval development occurs entirely within seeds.

Behavior

Emerged immediately mate and begin -laying on the same day. Exhibits strategy during larval development, with competing exploitatively for resources throughout all larval stages. Males engage in fighting with larger males having advantage in contests. Multiple mating occurs.

Ecological Role

Agricultural pest of legume . to including Eupelmus pulchriceps ().

Human Relevance

Significant economic pest of stored legume seeds worldwide. Causes damage to multiple bean, pea, and lentil both pre- and post-harvest. with potential for continued range expansion via trade routes.

Similar Taxa

  • Callosobruchus analisSimilar and ; distinguished by competition strategy (C. analis exhibits contest competition, C. phaseoli exhibits ) and interference timing (C. analis shows interference only at late larval stages)
  • Callosobruchus maculatusCongeneric with overlapping range and distribution; precise distinguishing features require examination of and subtle morphological characters
  • Caliothrips phaseoliName similarity only; this is a (: ), not a , with entirely different and

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Sources and further reading