A comparative study of the bionomics of three geographical strains from Zimbabwe and a laboratory strain of Callosobruchus rhodesianus (Pic) was done on cowpeas, green gram, chickpeas and soyabeans. The three strains were collected from the highveld, middleveld and lowveld regions of Zimbabwe. A notable feature of the study was the variation in a number of life history parameters between the strains. Significant food and strain differences were found in relation to oviposition, development period (egg to adult) and adult survival on different legumes. Oviposition of all strains on chickpeas was less than a third of the 40 or so eggs produced per female on cowpeas, green gram or soyabeans. Although oviposition was high on soyabeans, they rarely supported complete development.