ABSTRACT:
This study aimed to identify and catalog medicinally significant shrubs and climbing plants, while excluding herbs, grasses, creepers, and mosses, that were affected by bagworm infestations. The evaluation of bagworm infestation within the medicinal flora was conducted using a visual scoring system. The severity of the infestation was categorized into five levels: S0, S1, S2, S3, and S4, representing a range from no infestation to a very high degree of infestation. A species-specific study has identified that over 90% infestation rates were observed in nine species. Among these, five species—Asparagus racemosus Willd., Acacia conninna (Willd.) DC., Ixora praviflora Vahl., Psidium guajava L., and Acacia holoserica G. Don—belonging to the families Asparagaceae, Fabaceae, Rubiaceae, and Myrtaceae, exhibited a complete (100%) infestation rate in the S4 category, indicating a very high level of infestation. Additionally, twenty-five species were found to have a high infestation level in the S3 category, ranging from 60.1% to 90%. Sixteen species demonstrated a medium level of infestation in the S2 category, with rates between 30.1% and 60%. A marginal and sparse infestation, categorized as S1, was recorded in twelve species, with infestation levels between 0.1% and 30%. Furthermore, three species—Dioscorea alata L. and Dioscorea pentaphylla L. from the Dioscoreaceae family, along with Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal from the Solanaceae family—showed no infestation (0%) in the S4 category, indicating they are entirely free of bagworm. The findings of the study indicate that 62.9% of the medicinal plant species in the Bastar region of Chhattisgarh are affected by bagworm (Lepidoptera: Psychidae). The analysis of infestation levels in shrubs and climbing plants with therapeutic properties highlights and confirms the polyphagous behavior of the bagworm. Shrubs, characterized by their foliage, thorny branches, flowers, fruits, and soft bark, serve as favorable hosts for bagworm larvae (Psychids). Additionally, the elongated climbing plants enhance the movement of case larvae between different hosts. The biodiversity indices were complementary, revealing that Bacheli (DA) exhibited the highest biodiversity concerning medicinal plant species, while Bennur (NA) showed the greatest evenness in total infestation. In conclusion, the bagworm infestation affecting medicinal plant species in the Bastar region is concerning. Consequently, it is crucial to investigate the extent of defoliation resulting from this infestation. Additionally, assessing the damage inflicted by the bagworms on the medicinal plants, which hold significant economic value in the Bastar region, is equally important.
Cite this article:
Satendra Kumar Induria, Arvind Agrawal. Bagworms (Lepidoptera: Psychidae) as a Pest of Medicinal Plants in Chhattisgarh's Bastar Regions. International Journal of Technology. 2025; 15(1):1-4. doi: 10.52711/2231-3915.2025.00001
Cite(Electronic):
Satendra Kumar Induria, Arvind Agrawal. Bagworms (Lepidoptera: Psychidae) as a Pest of Medicinal Plants in Chhattisgarh's Bastar Regions. International Journal of Technology. 2025; 15(1):1-4. doi: 10.52711/2231-3915.2025.00001 Available on: https://ijtonline.com/AbstractView.aspx?PID=2025-15-1-1