There are a number of other bruchids including stored product pests and species that attack plants in the wild. Adult bruchids sometimes can be quite common on flowers in the springtime. Eggs laid by females hatch in 5 to 20 days. Larvae typically feed inside the cowpea, taking from 2 weeks to 6 months to develop before pupating there. Six or seven generations may occur per year.
Mouthparts are for chewing.
They prefer dried cowpeas but will attack other beans and peas in storage. Adults move about readily and can infest seeds in the field, but can also breed continuously in stored dry cowpeas. Larvae typically develop inside the dried peas. Larvae chew near the surface and leave a thin covering uneaten which appears as a window. Damage appears as round holes in the peas.