Infestation of Bagworms (Lepidoptera: Psychidae) in Shorea robusta Roth – The State Tree (SAL)

Abstract

Bagworm (Lepidotera: Pyschidae) – a switching pest, is a polyphagous defoliator of economically and ecologically beneficial plants, ranging from ornamental plants to huge forest trees. The bagworms have huge potential to completely defoliate a host tree leading to deficit in net primary productivity. The larvae of bagworm species use varied and unique nesting patterns [1]. Among the tribes of Bastar the cases of bagworms made up of sticks are popular as rain gauge [2]. In this study an attempt wasmade for the first time to observe prevalence of bagworm infestations in Sal(ShorearubostaRoth) trees of Bastar region known as the Island of Sal. Result of the study based on visual score system categorized into S0,S1,S2,S3 and S4, reveals infestation level of bagworms in forest division of Bastar and Dantewada is at high level of S3. Thus, it appears urgent to initiate large scale study to enumerate infestation of bagworm on Sal and other tree species of Bastar region. This article for the first time reports infestation of bagworm in Sal (ShorearubostaRoth).