Biology and Host Plant Specificity of Bean Beetle, <I> Callosobruchus imitator </I> Kingsolver

Abstract

Bean beetle, Callosobruchus imitator Kingsolver, is a new stored-bean pest recently found in the world and its basic information is not known. Thus, this study aimed to investigate on biology of the bean beetle reared on azuki bean and its host plant specificity in laboratory condition. The results revealed that the mean durations of egg, larval and pupal stages were 5.33 ±0.49, 14.57 ±1.98 and 5.67 ±0.51 days, respectively.  Male and female longevities were 62.5 ±24.63 and 73.50 ±28.64 days, respectively.  The mean duration from egg to adult emergence was 25.74 ±3.49 days.  The total of 12 species of bean seeds were tested for host plant specificity of C. imitator.  It was indicated that the females of C. imitator could lay their eggs on red bamboo bean, azuki bean, cowpea, red kidney bean, mung bean, white kidney bean, black bean, yard long bean, string bean, soy bean and garden pea.  They did not lay their eggs on peanut.  However, C. imitator could complete its life cycle on five species of beans, red bamboo bean, azuki bean, cowpea, mung bean and yard long bean, with the average of 30.75, 31.55, 31.27, 32.84 and 30.28 days, respectively.