Semiochemical-mediated oviposition preference of Callosobruchus maculatus on seed legumes

Abstract           

The cowpea weevil, Callosobruchus maculatus Fabricius (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) is the most damaging pest of stored legumes worldwide. Semiochemical based management tactics have been developed for several stored-product pests. However, very little is known about the semiochemicals that mediate attraction of C. maculatus to host legumes. The goal of this study was to identify the cues that mediate oviposition preference of C. maculatus. First, the oviposition preference of C. maculatus on different seed legumes was investigated using four-choice olfactometer bioassays. The semiochemical cues mediating oviposition preference were then identified using analytical and electrophysiological techniques.