A comparative study on development of the bean beetle Acanthoscelides obtectus (Say) in bean, cowpea, and pigeon pea seed diets

Abstract

Results indicated that the differences in the numbers of beetles developing in beans, pigeon peas, and cowpeas were statistically significant at the third generation level. The average life cycle in a generation was shorter in beans and cowpeas than in pigeon pea. Adult emergence pattern curves showed that beans and cowpeas were better food media for A. obtectus than pigeon peas. Likewise, beetles reared in bean and cowpea seeds had a longer lifespan than those reared in pigeon pea seeds. Ovipositing A. obtectus tended to lay more eggs among bean seeds than among cowpea and pigeon pea. In terms of these studies, it was clear that bean seeds are more suitable as host to A. obtectus than cowpea and pigeon pea