Cowpea Curculio - Chalcodermus aeneus Boheman
Dr. H C Ellis, Professor and Extension Entomologist, The University of Georgia, Department of Entomology, Tifton, GA 31793
Dr. D. L. Horton, Professor and Extension Entomologist, The University of Georgia, Department of Entomology, Athens, GA 30602,
In: Roberts, P. M. and G. K. Douce, Coordinators. 1999. Weevils and Borers. A County Agent's Guide to Insects Important to Agriculture in Georgia. Univ. of GA, Col. Ag. Env. Sci., Coop. Ext. Serv., Tifton, GA USA. Winter School Top Fifty Agricultural Insect Pests and Their Damage Sessions, Rock Eagle 4-H Ctr., Jan. 20, 1999.
Order Coleoptera: Family Curculionidae
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The cowpea curculio is the most destructive insect pest of southern peas.
Description: The adult is an oval hump-backed, bronze-tinged, black "snout" beetle that has small dents on the wing covers and on the upper side of the body. It is about 1/4 inch long. Small, brown, wartlike or blisterlike spots are found on pods damaged by curculios. These are produced when the adult punctures the pod to feed or lay eggs. Damaged peas have small, dark indented spots and often contain grubs.
Hosts: cowpeas, peas, various beans and legumes
Life Cycle: They overwinter as adults in crop refuse or grass in the field or on the field borders. Tufts of broomsedge, particularly at edges of woods, are favorite hiding places for overwintering adults. Adults begin to leave their winter quarters from March through July in Georgia. The overwintering adults are long-lived and may survive through the summer. Eggs are laid as soon as peas are formed in the pods. The weevil punctures the pod, chews a small hole in the surface of the pea and lays a single egg. A legless, pale
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 Cowpea curculio adult and damage
Photo by: Clemson Univ/USDA slide series
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 Cowpea curculio damage
Photo by: Dr. David Adams
UGA Extension Entomologist
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yellow, brown-headed grub feeds on one or more peas before it reaches its full size of slightly more than 1/4 inch. It then chews an exit hole through the pod , drops to the ground, and pupates about 1 inch deep in the soil. Approximately seven or eight days elapse from the time that the eggs are laid until they emerge from the pod. The pupal stage lasts about six days. About 21 to 50 days are required to complete the life cycle with two generations each year. Generations overlap and all stages can be present on southern peas at the same time.
Control: The only feasible approach to control of cowpea curculio is a preventive spray program. Curculios will be a serious pest of peas from first bloom until harvest. The current recommended spray schedule begins with a spray at first bloom and repeat treatments made on a five-day schedule until five applications have been made.
Updated from: Horton, D. L. and H C Ellis, 1997. Weevils and Borers. In: Hudson, R. D. and D. B. Adams. 1997. A County Agent's Guide to Insects Important to Agriculture in Georgia. Entomology 97, RDH (1). Univ. of GA, Col. Ag. Env. Sci, Coop. Ext. Serv., Tifton, GA 31793.
Selected References and Suggested Readings
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