Bionomics of Alcidodes Signatus Boheman (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), A Serious Pest of Red Kidney Bean, Phaseolus vulgaris L.

Alcidodes signatus Boheman has been observed as a serious pest ofred kidney bean, PhaseoIus vulgaris L., with adults feeding on the tender shoots and grubs afflicting damage to the internal tissues of stem and inducing galls. Though, adults also feed on Salvia spp., Capsicum spp., Indigofera tinctoris, Ipomoea nil and Parthenium hysterophorus, breeding and gall induction has been recorded only in Phaseolus vulgaris. Adults were active from the first week of June to mid November and population reached its peak during August to September, coinciding with the availability of the host plant. Mean infestation of 56.07±4.63 per cent in Poonch and Rajouri districts of Jammu region has been recorded. Copulation lasted for 20–30 minutes and generally a single egg was observed in a hole per girdled portion of the branch. Incubation period was observed to vary from 5–7 days. Larvae measured upto a maximum of9-1 0 mm in length during different instars, whitish in colour, apodous, C-shaped and passed through five instars. Larval period lasted for 35–42 days and pupal period for 12–15 days. Immature beetle remained in the pupal chamber (gall) for 6–7 days. Total life cycle took 56–62 days and at least two generations were observed from June to mid November.