Bagworms (Lepidoptera: Psychidae) as a Pest of Medicinal Plants in Chhattisgarh's Bastar Regions

 

Satendra Kumar Induria1, Arvind Agrawal2*

1Department of Botany, Govt. J. Yoganandam Chhattisgarh College, Raipur-492010.

2UGC-Malaviya Mission Teacher Training Centre, Pt. Ravishankar Shukla University, Raipur-492010.

 *Corresponding Author E-mail: dr.arvind02@gmail.com

 

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.

 

KEYWORDS: Psychids, Bagworm, Medicinal plants, infestation, maximum.

 

 

INTRODUCTION:

Medicinal plants are primarily found in tropical environments. Since the beginning of time, people have used the many plant parts—leaf, bark, stem, flower, fruit, and seed—in medicinal settings. The Tribal health care is supported by medicinal plants. According to Bannik et al. (2014), climbers make up 10.6% of the state of Chhattisgarh's total flora. The Disocraceae family of climbers, which are mostly utilized for food and medicine, are highly well-known in the Bastar region. More than 325 essential aromatic and medicinal plants can be found in Chattisgarh (CGFD, 2003).

 

Bagworms primarily consume shrubs (Jones and Parks, 1928), as well as cedars, arborvitae, and junipers (Heather et al., 2014). They infest over 50 plant families (Rhainds et al., 2009), many of which are of significant medicinal value. Previous studies have highlighted the host preferences of bagworms based on quality (Ward et al., 1990a), nutritional content (Neal and Santamour, 1990; Ward et al., 1990b; Ward et al., 1991), and adaptability (Pati and Agrawal, 2000), thereby confirming the polyphagous nature of bagworms in tropical regions. Research conducted by Mathew and Nair (1986) on Syzygium cumini, Pratap and Bhandari (1987) on Acacia lortilis, Thangavelu and Ravindranath (1985) regarding tea, Emmanuel et al. (2010) on cocoa foliage, as well as Kumar et al. (2014) on Litchi and Mathew and Nair (1986) alongside Haldhar and Singh (2019) on Emblica officinalis, has identified these species as favored hosts for bagworms. This section of the thesis aims to investigate the pest status of bagworms in the medicinal plants of the Bastar region.

 

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

Survey of medicinal plants in sample plot

Medicinal shrubs with a minimum height of 2 meters (6.6 feet) and climbing plants along line transects were examined for the presence of bagworm pupae, larvae, and adults. Each plant was meticulously inspected for suspended pupae and active larval cases. The level of infestation was indicated by attaching a red ribbon labeled (S0, S1, S2, S3, S4) to the trunk of each plant. The scientific name of the host plant was documented on-site. Each shrub and climbing plant within the line transects was thoroughly assessed, and a tally of plant species was recorded concurrently with the removal of the tagged red ribbon from the trunk.

 

Study of pest status in medicinal plants

The pest status of bagworm species was assessed across all seven districts of the Bastar region, as detailed in Chapter 2. Infestation levels of bagworm species were evaluated within 10 x 10 km² grids at each sampling location. Within each grid, four line transects measuring 250 m by 5 m were established to survey medicinal plants for the presence of bagworm pupae, larvae, and adults. A visual scoring system, as described by Agrawal and Pati (1995) and Nair et. al (1981), was employed to determine the percentage of infestation at each site. The severity of bagworm infestation was categorized into five levels: S0, S1, S2, S3, and S4, reflecting a range from no infestation to a very high level of infestation.

 

Fig. 1 LT (line-transect) survey criteria for medicinal plants

 

RESULT AND DISCUSSION:

A survey of bagworm infestation was conducted on 3,135 medicinal plants, revealing infestation levels of 904 (28.9%) in S3, 507 (16.2%) in S2, 443 (14.2%) in S1, and 118 (3.8%) in S4. Additionally, 1,163 plants (37.2%) were categorized as S0. The survey identified 65 species of medicinal plants across 30 different families (Table-1)

 

Table 1 List of families of medicinal plant recorded in Bastar

SN

Families

I%

1

Asparagaceae

100

2

Phyllanthaceae

90.2

3

Myrtaceae

90.1

4

Ebenaeae

88.4

5

Celastraceae

85.3

6

Annonaceae

80.0

7

 Colchicaceae

74.3

8

Fabaceae

68.8

9

Rubiaceae

66.2

10

Malvaceae

64.2

11

Meliaceae

64.1

12

Lythraceae

61.6

13

Zingiberaceae

60.2

14

Acanthaceae

57.7

15

Rhamnaceae

55.6

16

Caprifoliaceae

48.6

17

Bignoniaceae

48.1

18

Zingiberaceae

60.2

19

Arecaceae

47.8

20

Apocynaceae

44.1

21

Primulaceae

42.1

22

Oleaceae

35.0

23

Euphorbiaceae

31.1

24

Smilaceae

29.4

25

Salicaceae

27.8

26

Loganiaceae

26.3

27

Lamiaceae

25.6

28

 Sapindaceae

20.0

29

Solanaceae

1.8

30

Dioscoreaceae

1.2

 

The research indicates that medicinal plant species, primarily shrubs, in the Bastar region of Chhattisgarh are affected by bagworm infestations. Prior studies from Brazil concerning Eriobotrya japonica (Thunb.) Lindl. (Rosaceae) and reports from tropical America regarding coffee leaves, as well as various plants from families such as Aquifoliaceae, Apocynaceae, Arecaceae, Betulaceae, Bignoniaceae, Aprifoliaceae, Casuarinaceae, Clusiaceae, Combretaceae, Ebenaceae, Erythroxylaceae, Euphorbiaceae, Lamiaceae, Lauraceae, Fabaceae, Malpighiaceae, Malvaceae, Myrtaceae, Moraceae, Musaceae, Palmaceae, Pinaceae, Polygonaceae, Rhizophoraceae, Rosaceae, Rubiaceae, Rutaceae, Sapindaceae, Ulmaceae, Vochysiaceae, and Zygophyllaceae (Stephens, 1962; Rhainds et al., 2002; Rhainds and La Rosa, 2010) further corroborate the findings regarding the pest status of bagworms on medicinal plants. Approximately 62.9% of the documented medicinal plants were found to be infested with bagworms. These pests primarily consume shrubs (Jones and Parks, 1928), as well as cedars, arborvitae, and junipers (Heather et al., 2014), and are known to affect over 50 plant families (Rhainds et al., 2009). Previous studies on the host preferences of bagworms highlight their selection based on quality (Ward et al., 1990a), nutritional value (Neal and Santamour, 1990; Ward et al., 1990b; Ward et al., 1991), and adaptability (Pati and Agrawal, 2000), reinforcing the polyphagous characteristics of bagworms in tropical environments.

 

A regional assessment of bagworm pest status on a medicinal plant comprising 65 species from 30 families highlighted the percentage representation and intensity of bagworm infestation. The Fabaceae family exhibited the highest representation in the region, while a significantly high level of bagworm infestation was observed in the Asparagaceae family. In contrast, the Solanaceae and Dioscoreaceae families showed low levels of infestation. Bacheli (DA) demonstrated the greatest biodiversity concerning medicinal plant species, whereas Bennur (NA) recorded the highest total infestation and maximum evenness.

 

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Received on 08.01.2025      Revised on 19.03.2025

Accepted on 04.05.2025      Published on 20.06.2025

Available online from June 30, 2025

International Journal of Technology. 2025; 15(1):1-4.

DOI: 10.52711/2231-3915.2025.00001

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