Sexual conflict over reproductive investment can lead to sexually antagonistic coevolution and reproductive isolation. It has been suggested that, unlike most models of allopatric speciation, the evolution of reproductive isolation through sexually antagonistic coevolution will occur faster in large populations as these harbour greater levels of standing genetic variation, receive larger number...

Development and reproductive success of the solitary egg parasitoid Uscana lariophaga Steffan were examined after development in eggs of the bruchid storage pest Callosobruchus maculatus Fabricius reared at either low or high densities on cowpea seeds and laid at day 1 and 4 of maternal life. Both bruchid larval competition and maternal age negatively affected egg size, but the latter more than...

Seed coat is a specialized maternal tissue that interfaces the embryo and the external environment during embryogenesis, dormancy and germination. In addition, it is the first defensive barrier against penetration by pathogens and herbivores. Here we show that Albizia lebbeck seed coat dramatically compromises the oviposition, eclosion and development of the bruchid Callosobruchus maculatus. Di...

Essential oil extracted from the leaves of Myrtle, Myrtus communis L. (Myrtaceae)was tested in vitro for volatile toxicity against two stored-product insects (Tribolium confusum and Callosobruchus maculatus). The chemical composition of the plant oil was examined by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The major oil components were α-pinene (10.4%), α- Terpineol (10.1%), linalool (9.0%...

Hemicelluloses, such as xyloglucan, xylan and mannans, consist of a heterogeneous array of plant-derived polysaccharides that form the plant cell wall. These polysaccharides differ from each other in their structure and physiochemical properties, but they share a β-(1,4)-linked sugar backbone. Hemicelluloses can be hydrolyzed by plant-cell-wall-degrading enzymes (PCWDEs), which are widely distr...

Despite their unparalleled biodiversity, the genomic resources available for beetles (Coleoptera) remain relatively scarce. We present an integrative and high quality annotated transcriptome of the beetle Callosobruchus maculatus, an important and cosmopolitan agricultural pest as well as an emerging model species in ecology and evolutionary biology. Using Illumina sequencing technology, we seq...

Synthetic insecticides and repellents have been broadly used worldwide for the control of crop pests and insects acting as vectors of human disease. Despite effectiveness, synthetic insecticides or repellents may cause serious damages to the environment and consequently to humans and animals. The growing biotechnological investigation for alternative insecticides and repellents, particularly of...

The pest cowpea weevil Callosobruchus maculatus (F.) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) exhibits polymorphism with flight and flightless forms that differ in morphology life-history. Flight are generally dispersers lower fecundity increase frequency when population density intraspecific competition both high. larvae can cause important damage to stored grains the solitary ectoparasitoid Dinarmus basal...