Egg morphology, host, and probable regions of origin of the bruchids (Coleoptera: Bruchidae) that infest stored pulses—an identification aid

Abstract

Abstract The Bruchidae, as a family, are almost entirely dependent upon legume seeds as a food source for the larvae. Several species have become pests because the legume seeds are used for human food (pulses). Scanning electron micrographs of the eggs of the 9 species of bruchids that are known to damage stored pulses are presented as an aid to their identification when adults cannot be found. Distinguishing the eggs of the 4 genera Callosob-ruchus, Caryedon (serratus (Olivier)), Acanthos-celides (obtectus (Say)), and Zabrotes (subfasciatus (Boheman)) is straightforward. The eggs of Callosobruchus analis (F.) and C. subinotatus Pic can be separated from those of the other 4 Callosobruchus species by size alone. The eggs of C. chinensis (L.) and C. rhodesianus Pic are similar in size but of slightly different form. The latter has only been found in Africa. C. maculatus (F.) and C. phaseoli (Gyllenhal) also have eggs of about the same size and shape. However, C. phaseoli has not been recorded from Europe a...