اثر اشعه ایکس بر فراسنجه‌های جدول زندگی سوسک چهارنقطه‌ای حبوبات، Callosobruchus maculatus F. (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae)

Legume grains are one of the principal food products in Iran and many other countries of the world. The cowpea weevil, Callosobruchus maculatus F., is one of the key pests of legume grains in the field and storage, which can reduce the weight, quality, and marketability of these products. One of the basic strategies to control this pest is the widespread use of chemical insecticides, which has resulted in numerous side effects such as environmental pollution and negative impacts on non-target organisms. The use of X-ray has been introduced as one of the efficient safe methods in the management of stored-product pests. In the present study, the effect of X-ray on the life table parameters of the cowpea weevil during 36 h irradiation (0.5 Gy/h) was investigated. The cowpea weevil was reared on grains of green gram, and the experiments were performed by irradiating adults male and female and comparing them with untreated (control) insects in 40 replicates for 5 days. The results indicated that when only one sex (male or female) was treated with X-ray, significant differences were found in the number of eggs laid and mortality of adults compared to the control. When both sexes were exposed to X-ray, the number of eggs laid and survival of adults were significantly lower than the control. Irradiation to both sexes caused a significant decrease in the intrinsic rate of population increase (r), the net reproductive rate (R0) and the finite rate of population increase (λ) compared to the control. Also, the use of X-ray showed no significant effect on the germination rate of green grams. Therefore, the use of X-rays can be suggested as an environmentally-friendly and safe method in the management of the cowpea weevil in storage.