Cowpea Weevil

Callosobruchus maculatuss

Appearance

Image of Cowpea weevil (Callosobruchus maculatuss) | Rentokil Malaysia
  • 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.