Host preference of Callosobruchus mac ulat us (Fabricus) ( Coleoptera : Bruchidae) on three edible legumes

Abstract

Three edible legumes i.e. mung bean, chickpea, and cowpea, were subjected to infestation by, Callosobruchus maculatus to study the host preference under laboratory conditions. Present study also indicated that previous life history does not affect the host preference of adults as C.maculatus adults reared on mung bean, chick pea and cowpea always preferred to lay eggs on mung bean seeds despite their original rearing seeds. This food preference was significant (p<.05) when adults were provided with mung bean and chick pea mixture to lay eggs. Host preference was not significant when the adults were provided with chick pea, cowpea mixture or cowpea mung Dean mixture. This indicates that mung bean was found to be the most preferred host for C. maculatus than the other two tested legume varieties.