OBSERVATIONS ON THE BIOLOGY OF THE PULSE BEETLE CALLOSOBRUCHUS CHINENSIS (LINN.) INFESTING STORED PULSES
N.K. PANDEY *
DEPARTMENT OF ZOOLOGY, A.N.S. COLLEGE, BARH (PATNA)-803213, INDIA
S.C. SINGH *
DEPARTMENT OF ZOOLOGY, A.N.S. COLLEGE, BARH (PATNA)-803213, INDIA
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
A comparative study of the biology of Calosobruchus chinensis (Linn) was made on urd and chickpea seed at 28±2°C
and 70 ± 5% R.H. An average of 70 eggs were laid by the famale. The maximum daily egg laying was observed on
the first day of oviposition. The number of eggs laid per seed depended on the size of the pulse seed and the bruchid
species involved. Incubation for the eggs was 4-5 days. The combined larval and pupal period averaged 20-days.
Both the sexes occurred in almost equal numbers. There was no significant difference between the life span of two
sexes and in the developmental period for eggs laid on successive days of oviposition. However, a significant
difference in the mortality rate of such eggs was observed, than those laid on the first day showing the latest
mortality. The eggs laid on the last day were usually non-viable.