S. K. Jindal

Fruit infestation of Acacia tortilis (Forsk) hyne by Bruchidius andrewesi Pic. (Coleoptera: Bruchidae) in the Thar desert

Abstract Bruchidius andrewesi Pic. has been recorded as a serious pest of pods and seeds of Acacia tortilis in the Thar desert of India. Pest infestation on developing pods and its relationship with morphological traits is reported. Pod infestation varied from 5 to 19% with 5–29% infestation of seeds. Infestation of pods is directly related to infestation of seed ( r = 0.72 ∗∗ ), and both pod and seed infestation are also directly correlated with loss in seed biomass ( r = 0.79 ∗∗ and r = 0.88 ∗∗ ). The infestation of pods starts in November and increases steady until harvest. Seeds kept in the laboratory for further studies were found to be 100% infested with B. andrewesi, as the insect multiplied faster under these conditions. The heavy infestation is damaging not only to A. tortilis but also to other leguminous trees of the desert. Bruchidius andrewesi has also been found on pods and seeds of Prosopis cineraria, an important indigenous tree of the region.