ABSTRACT

Cowpeas, a versatile ingredient consumed in various forms such as bean cakes, pudding, baked beans, soup, and fried beans, face multiple challenges throughout their growth cycle and storage, primarily due to diseases and pest infestations. Specifically, cowpea beetles (Callosobruchus sp.) are stored-product insect pests known for infesting and consuming leguminous crops, including cowpeas. Current knowledge about the variety and prevalence of Callosobruchus pests in cowpeas sold in Nigerian markets is limited. This survey investigates the prevalence of Callosobruchus sp. in local cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) at Ring road market, Benin City, Edo state, Nigeria. 'Brown beans,' 'Iron beans,' 'Kano beans,' 'Sokoto beans,' and 'Uloca beans' were obtained and examined for infestations. Out of 832 bean seeds examined, 287 seeds (34.50%) were found to be afflicted by Callosobruchus sp. infestation. Among these infested seeds, 166 individual Callosobruchus sp. specimens were identified. 'Uloca beans' exhibited the highest incidence of infestation (91.89%), followed by Kano beans (27.83%), Iron beans (7.21%), Sokoto beans (5.67%), and Brown beans (2.34%). A significant difference (X² = 566.14, p < 0.05) in Callosobruchus sp. prevalence was observed among the different cowpea variants examined in this study. These findings underscore the need for integrated pest management (IPM) strategies to combat infestations in most cowpea variants, addressing economic losses and nutritional quality concerns. Particular attention is warranted for managing Uloca and Kano bean variants, which serve as favorable environments for Callosobruchus sp. proliferation.