Studies on the life cycle of pulse beetle (Callosobruchus chinensis L.) on chickpea and oviposition preference on different chickpea genotypes/ varieties

Total developmental period from egg to adult of C. chinensis (L.) was studied on chickpea (variety JG 12). It was observed that the average incubation period was 4.67 days which varied from 3 to 7 days in which differences could be due to the impact of temperature and humidity. The larval pupal period varied from 26 to 29 days with an average of 27.0 days during the present studies with the larval period varied from 20 to 22 days and the pupal period from 6 to 7 days. The time taken by the beetle to complete total developmental period varied from 30 to 34 days (average: 31.66 days). Regarding adult orientation and oviposition preference of the pulse beetle (tested on 30 chickpea varieties/ genotypes), the genotype JG 11 X RVSSG 1 was found to be best host and the least preferred host was JAKI 9218.