Pea weevil
Scientific name
Bruchus pisorum (Linnaeus)
Classification
Primary pest; Grain feeder
Order: Coleoptera
Family: Chrysomelidae
Acronym: BPI
Description
- Adults are 6 to 7 mm long, globular in shape with long legs
- Elytra do not reach the end of the abdomen, leaving the last terga exposed
- Last abdominal terga is covered with black and white setae and the inner ridge of the ventral margin of the hind femur has a single spine
- Larvae are white and grub-like, having reduced legs
Images
Similar species
- Bean weevil (Acanthoscelides obtectus)
- Southern cowpea weevil (Callosobruchus chinensis)
Commodities affected
- Peas
Signs of infestation
- Damaged seeds with entrance or exit holes as described in “Damage”
Damage
- Damage is distinctive.
- Both adult and larvae feed on the inside of seeds.
- Feeding causes tiny, dot-like entrance holes.
- Feeding also causes larger, round exit holes with a diameter of 2.5 mm and excavated seed.
- Large populations may reduce stored crop to little more than dust.
How to control
Geographic range
- Is distributed worldwide
- Is distributed across Canada
Where found
- Weevils attacks peas that are grown in gardens and fields.
- Infestation results in seeds that may not germinate or produce weak plants.
- Weevils cannot persist in storage as they cannot re-infest stored seed.
- Main sources of pea weevil are broken peas, volunteer peas and stored infested seed.
Life history
- Females lay eggs on outside of pod.
- Larvae develop in growing seeds within pods.
- Larvae develop in growing or stored bean seeds.
- After pupation within the seed, the adult chews an exit hole through the seed coat.
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