page_title: Callosobruchus maculatus
section_title: Control
hierarchical_section_title: Callosobruchus maculatus / Control
caption_attribution_description: English: Callosobruchus maculatus on blackeyed peas
context_page_description: Callosobruchus maculatus is a species of beetles known commonly as the cowpea weevil or cowpea seed beetle. It is a member of the leaf beetle family, Chrysomelidae, and not a true weevil. This common pest of stored legumes has a cosmopolitan distribution, occurring on every continent except Antarctica. The beetle most likely originated in West Africa and moved around the globe with the trade of legumes and other crops. As only a small number of individuals were likely present in legumes carried by people to distant places, the populations that have invaded various parts of the globe have likely gone through multiple bottlenecks. Despite these bottlenecks and the subsequent rounds of inbreeding, these populations persist. This ability to withstand a high degree of inbreeding has likely contributed to this species’ prevalence as a pest.
  It is used as a model organism for both research and education due to its quick generation time, sexual dimorphism, and ease of maintenance.
context_section_description: The beetle is considered "medically harmless" to humans. It is a damaging agricultural pest.
  In developing countries, small-scale farmers mix the crushed leaves of Cassia occidentalis into bean stores to deter the beetle. Other Cassia are useful, as well. The powdered leaves are effective, and a warm-water extract and the essential oil from the seeds are better. The seed oil does not stop oviposition, but it increases the mortality of the eggs and the first-instar larvae. The warm-water extract deters the adult female from ovipositing.
  Other botanical biological pest control agents tested include nishinda (Vitex negundo), Tasmanian blue gum (Eucalyptus globulus), bankalmi (Ipomoea sepiaria), neem (Azadirachta indica), safflower (Carthamus tinctorius), sesame (Sesamum indicum), and gum arabic (Acacia nilotica syn. Acacia arabica).
  Hermetic storage technologies like the Purdue Improved Cowpea Storage bags have also proven successful in controlling C. maculatus. These technologies work by separating the container environment from the surrounding air and forcing the insects inside to deplete the available oxygen inside the container  Not only does this ultimately kill the insects, but it also reduces the level of damage they inflict as active feeding ceases below a certain threshold of oxygen 
  Animal agents of biological control include the parasitoid wasps that target the beetle. In laboratory trials D. basalis has totally eliminated the beetle. A. calandrae and U.  mukerjii may also prove useful.
  Freezing the whole storage area will also control C. maculatus. A period of six to 24 hours at -18 °C kills all the adults and larvae. If the cooling is slow, the beetle can acclimatize, so longer freezing is required.
caption: Damage on black-eyed peas
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