A to Z of Pests

Cowpea Beetle

Callosobruchus maculatuss

Appearance

• Adults — 3mm long.
• They are reddish-brown in colour. Their wing covers (known as elytra) are black and grey and have two black spots.
• The larva is whitish, C–shaped, with a small head.

Lifecycle

• The eggs laid by the females hatch in 5 to 20 days.
• Larvae typically take from 2 weeks to 6 months to develop before pupating inside dried peas.
• Adults may be found outdoors in flowers in early spring.
• Between six and seven generations may occur per year.

Habits

• They prefer dried cowpeas but will attack other dried beans and peas in storage.
• Adults move about readily and can infest seeds in the field, but can also breed continuously in dry, stored cowpeas.