Abstract:

Bruchids belonging to
pests on cowpea grains in Ecist Al
a few months of storage di
f
X :
7065, Kampala, Uganda-

hnniyinz:. /

of C. maculatus was invesi'r
no testa, split grains with I, hole utrsj:''
old C. maculatus were allo- ec:
12% moisture content, then retncd. Oata on oyjposition,
ch Laborato.j :v K Rwanda,

;:.• 'oss causative
5-15 % within the biology
pili grains +
.1 female 4-dayu pre conditioned to
J weights of emergent
adults were collected over 3 weevil devtiopment generations. Mean separiitions were done using
Analysis of Variance. There was significant reduction (P< 0.05) in oviposition and emergent
adults for C. maculatus at Fl, F2 and F3 generations on spilt compared to whole grains. Mean
oviposition levels on split grain without test; was with only 1.3 ± 1 eggs compared to 258 ? 14 eggs
in the controls at F3. Oviposition levels reduced with generation time in all the treatments. The
control had the highest adult weevil emergence and mean adult weevil weights (78.8 ± 6.9) with
no emergent adults from completely split grains at F3. Mean weevils were highest in the controls
and reduced with generation time with least adult weights from the split grain. In this study we
conclude that grain splitting reduces development of C. maculatus spp. and could be a viable
option in the integrated management of this bruchid pest during storage at farmer level