Bruchus pisorum (Linnaeus, 1758)

Taxonomy: Polyphaga > Chrysomeloidea > Chrysomelidae > Bruchus > Bruchus pisorum

Common name: 

Pea Beetle or Spanish Bean Beetle

Images

Bruchus pisorum
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

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.

Distribution (may take a minute to appear)