Technique to isolate Callosobruchus chinensis (L.) (Coleoptera: Bruchidae) eggs

A simple technique to isolate the eggs of Callosobruchus chinensis from the surface on which they are laid is described. An aqueous extract of their natural food, green gram, Vigna radiata, is used to coat glass beads that attract adult females for oviposition. The thin layer of extract on the glass beads allows separation of the eggs from the bead surface after a 15–20 s immersion in water. When transplanted onto fresh grain treated with glue, the separated eggs exhibit normal development and up to 97% hatching.