Comparative study on development of the bean beetle acanthoscelides obtectus (say) in bean, cowpea, and pigeon pea seed diets

Abstract

Experiments were undertaken to compare the performance in population growth, life cycle, adult emergence pattern, oviposition preference, larval food selection and fecundity differences of the bean seed beetle Acanthoscelides obtectus (Say) in three pulses. These were, the common bean Phaseolus vulgaris el) cowpea Vigna unguiculata ell, and pigeon pea Cajanus cajan (l) Millsp. The measure of damage done by . obtectus to f. vulgaris is well known, and the bean is grown widely in the country. The production of V. unguiculata and C. cajan is increasing. The study of the effect of A obtectus on these pulses; one where its capacity to damage is known, and two where the damage has not been investigated on, was to determine the degree of damage by the beetle in the two smaller pulses and hence its pest status