FRUIT INFESTATION OF ACACIA-TORTILIS (FORSK) HYNE BY BRUCHIDIUS-ANDREWESI PIE (COLEOPTERA, BRUCHIDAE) IN THE THAR DESERT

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