First Report of the Forest Trees Defoliator Bagworm, Auchmophila kordofensis Rebel (Lepidoptera: Psychidae) in the Gezira State, Sudan
Aspects of Biodiversity in Sudan Experience of the National Center for Research with Particular Collaboration with the National Insect Collection/ARC/Sudan,
16 January 2024
,
Page 16-25
https://doi.org/10.9734/bpi/mono/978-81-969497-3-0/CH2
Abstract
Insects represent more than 70% of the animal kingdom. They show a direct impact on agricultural food production as defoliator chewing plant leaves, sucking plant juices, or indirect effect by boring plant roots, stems or leaves, and thus spreading plant pathogens. The bagworm Auchmophila kordofensis is a moth known in some regions of the Sudan as a desertification agent. It threatens the country since its caterpillars strive mainly on V. nubica and A. tortilis which are forest trees that play a vital role in fixing sand dunes, protecting watersheds and preventing soil. Biologically, female moth never leaves the case while the winged male emerges from the bag, seeks a female to mate and soon dies. The fertilized female moth produces a large number of eggs and dies inside the larval bag, with eggs retained in its body. The tiny larvae rupture the body of the dead mother and wriggle out of the bag through its bottom opening. When the larva reaches maturity within ten to twelve weeks, it fixes its bag firmly to a twig by strands of silk, and enters into diapauses till the following rainy season. The adults emerge and the life cycle is repeated. The species is monovoltine and has a single generation per year. A biodiversity survey project was conducted in Sudan semi arid zones; namely, North Kordofan, Khartoum and Gezira states. During this survey, A. kordofensis was recorded in Gezira State /El Managil Plateau, (13º 12¨and 14º 12¨ N and longitudes 33º and 24¨ and 32º 48¨ E), insect collection was done using butterfly netting method and the obtained specimens were identified at the National Insect Collection Museum, Agricultural Research Corporation, where A. kordofensis was noticed to be first report in Gezira state. This insect pest is a tree defoliator that threatens the natural vegetation in the Gezira state and may consequently lead to cause desertification to agricultural soils. This record represents an early warning sign transmitted to forestry, crop protection Authorities and other concerned institutions in Gezira state to start necessary control measures, in its early occurrence.
- Bagworm
- Auchmophila kordofensis
- semi arid
- Sudan
- defoliator