description Cowpea Weevil Overview
[Callosobruchus maculatus](https://ask.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/IN1338), known as the cowpea weevil or cowpea seed beetle, is a stored-legume pest in the leaf beetle family Chrysomelidae. Females glue eggs to the surface of dry seeds, and the larvae bore into the seed and develop there before adults chew round exit holes through the seed coat. It attacks cowpeas and other legumes, can reproduce in warm storage, and is important because much of its feeding damage occurs inside apparently intact seeds.
help Cowpea Weevil FAQ
What is the cowpea weevil?
The cowpea weevil, also called the cowpea seed beetle, is Callosobruchus maculatus. It is a stored-legume pest in the leaf beetle family Chrysomelidae.
How does the cowpea weevil damage dry beans?
Females glue eggs to the surface of dry seeds, and the larvae bore into the seed after hatching. The developing larvae consume the seed from inside, which can leave holes and reduce its quality.
Does the cowpea weevil live inside the seed?
Yes. The larval stage develops within a dry legume seed, where it feeds before emerging as an adult beetle. This hidden stage makes infestations easy to miss during storage.
Which crops are affected by Callosobruchus maculatus?
It is especially associated with cowpeas and other stored legumes. The species can attack dry seeds in storage, making it an important pest of beans and related pulses.
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