A study on the developmental biology of Callosobruchus maculatus (fabricius) in different pulses

The development of Callosobruchus maculatus on five different varieties of pulses were studied. The cowpea variety CoCp-7 recorded significantly highest number of eggs oviposited and percentage adult emergence, the shortest developmental period, highest susceptibility indices and the highest weight loss. Dobie's susceptibility index showed that the cowpea variety CoCp-7 and Co-6 were found to be highly susceptible to C.maculatus, whereas greengram varieties Km-2 and VBN2 were found to be moderately resistant to C.maculatus. The blackgram varieties VBN3 and VBN4 were resistant and regarded as non-suitable hosts for the development of C.maculatus.