Callosobruchus chinensis

Morphology, life cycle, damage caused and control

Kingdom: Animal
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class : Insecta
Order : Coleoptera
Family: Chrysomelidae

Common names:
• Pulse Beetle

• Seed Beetle
• Adzuki bean weevil (but not a true weevil)
• chinese bruchid
• cowpea bruchid

Distribution:
cosmopolitan
tropical and sub-tropical regions of Asia
Adults
small 5 mm long
short
stout bodied
covered with setae or scales
snout absent

Colour:
dull greyish or brownish
with black and grey patches on the body
abdomen of female slightly longer than
elytra
white in colour with two oval black spots
on it

sexual dimorphism: female larger and

heavier
antennae: pectinate in male
serrate in females

anti predatory behaviour: feigning death

Wing covers (elytra) are marked with black and gray
and there are two black spots near the middle. The
elytra are short, leaving the last segment of the
abdomen exposed. This last abdominal segment also
has two black spots visible;
Pest and Diseases Image Library, Bugwood.org
Eggs:

occur singly
yellow colouring; translucent
opaque before hatching
Larvae
fleshy
curved
yellowish whitish in colour
black mouth parts
reduced legs
larva tunnelling in the grain

instars of Callosobruchus chinensis

This figure was uploaded by Goutam Hosamani

 Pupae

dark brown
pupation occurs inside legume grain

Pupation takes place in a pupal cell prepared beneath the seed coat.
 Adults copulate as soon as they emerge

female lays eggs on grains

incubation period
5-6 days
Life Cycle:
29-39 days eggs hatch
varies on different pulses
larvae emerge

enter seeds

develop inside seeds

chew tunnels till they are ready to pupate

Adult Life Span: 7-20 days adults bite a neat circular exit
(grain, climatic conditions) emerge from bean
Caption
Figure 14.3 Generalized bruchine life cycle in pods and seeds of dry beans. (A) Oviposition on the ventral pod suture (or in adult exit holes). (B) Single
eggs, freely deposited inside the pod (or attached to the seeds); b, aspect of egg. (C) Section of seed with entrance hole and tunnel excavated by a first
instar larva; (c) generalized first instar larva showing specializations for penetrating the seed. (D) Section of seed showing larval growth and modifications
after the first molt; (d) generalized final instar larva. (E) Seed showing demarcation of operculum by final instar larva. (F) Pupa inside the larval feeding
chamber showing larval entrance hole and exit hole already prepared; (f) general view of pupa. (G) Emergence of adult showing operculum; (g) completely
formed adult. (H) Emergence of adults with the possibility of reinfestation of seeds in partially opened fruits in the field. (I) Emergence of adults from stored
grains with the possibility of reinfestation without the need of food for the adults; (i) aspect of infested grain with more than three circular holes. J. Adults in
the field with a chance to feed on pollen and nectar. (From Pfaffenberger, G. S. and C. D. Johnson, Tech. Bull. U.S. Dept. Agric., 1525, 1, 1976.)

This figure was uploaded by Cibele Stramare Ribeiro-Costa

 Pulses

Poor man’s meat

protein and energy

stored grain pest
red gram
green gram
bengal gram/ chick pea
cow pea
beans
lentil
soybean
Damage Caused:
larvae
• infests seeds of different pulses in storage

• damages seeds in pods of red gram in fields

• depending on humidity and temperature, larvae feed exclusively on seeds
of legumes
• toothed thoracic plates of 1st instar larva help in making holes in grains
making them useless for human consumption

adults also cause feed on legumes

fungal infections may set in

Control:
seeds need to be protected without affecting the quality

Godowns can be treated by:

sterilisation
heating
fumigation with aluminium phosphide

stores should be:

dry,
clean,
devoid of cracks
insect proof

2inches thick sand can be spread on stored grains to check

egg laying
parasitoid wasp families