Cowpea Weevil vs Alfalfa Weevil Parasitoid
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Cowpea Weevil | Alfalfa Weevil Parasitoid |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Callosobruchus maculatus | Bathyplectes curculionis |
| Order | Coleoptera | Hymenoptera |
| Family | Chrysomelidae | Ichneumonidae |
| Size | 2-4 mm | 2-4 mm |
| Habitat | Farmland | Farmland |
| Diet | Seed Feeders | Parasitoids |
| Regions | Africa (native), pantropical, cosmopolitan | Europe, North America |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Cowpea Weevil
A small, reddish-brown to dark beetle with mottled elytra and a prominent pygidium bearing two dark spots. It is one of the most destructive pests of stored cowpeas and other pulses.
Did You Know?
Females glue their eggs directly onto the surface of bean seeds, and the larvae bore into the seed immediately upon hatching.
Alfalfa Weevil Parasitoid
A small parasitoid wasp that attacks alfalfa weevil larvae in North America. It was introduced from Europe as a classical biological control agent.
Did You Know?
This wasp reduced alfalfa weevil populations by over 75% in some areas after its introduction.