Taxonomy
- Polyphaga
- Chrysomeloidea
- Chrysomelidae
- Bruchus
- Bruchus pisorum
Common name
Pea Beetle or Spanish Bean Beetle
Images
Source: Lech Borowiec
Description
Size: 3.4-4.5mm
Basic colour: Blackish or brownish
Pattern colour: White T-shaped pubescent patch and a pair of black spots on the pygidium. Other pale pubescent patches dorsally.
Number of spots: variable
Pronotoum: As basic colour; with pubescent patterning.
Leg colour: As basic colour
Basic colour: Blackish or brownish
Pattern colour: White T-shaped pubescent patch and a pair of black spots on the pygidium. Other pale pubescent patches dorsally.
Number of spots: variable
Pronotoum: As basic colour; with pubescent patterning.
Leg colour: As basic colour
On average, the largest bruchid found in Britain, though large specimens of B. rufimanus may reach 5.3mm. Cosmopolitan, though probably originated in the eastern Mediterranean.
Biology
Status: Scattered - in (or escaped from) stored peas.
Habitat: In stored peas (e.g. mills, granaries, imports), or if escaped on various wild peas.
Host plant: Various peas
Overwintering: In Britain, indoor pea storage/processing facilities.
Food: Larvae in pea seeds; adults probably pollen-feeders.
Other notes: Many hymenopteran parasitoids around the world. House sparrows and staphylinid beetles recorded as predators.
Habitat: In stored peas (e.g. mills, granaries, imports), or if escaped on various wild peas.
Host plant: Various peas
Overwintering: In Britain, indoor pea storage/processing facilities.
Food: Larvae in pea seeds; adults probably pollen-feeders.
Other notes: Many hymenopteran parasitoids around the world. House sparrows and staphylinid beetles recorded as predators.