First Report of the Forest Trees Defoliator Bagworm, Auchmophila kordofensis Rebel (Lepidoptera: Psychidae) in the Gezira State, Sudan | Chapter 2 | Aspects of Biodiversity in Sudan Experience of the National Center for Research with Particular Collaboration with the National Insect Collection/ARC/Sudan

Insects represent more than 70% of the animal kingdom. They show 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 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 the maturity within ten to twelve weeks, it fixes its bag firmly to a twig by strands of silk, 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 butter fly 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 stateand may consequently lead to cause desertification to agricultural soils. This record represent 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.

Author(s) Details:

Abdel Gadir Mohammed Abdellah Dafaelseed,
National Insect Collection, Integrated Agricultural Pest Management Research Centre (ARC), Wad Medani, Sudan.

Maha Ali Abdellatif Ali,
Environment and Natural Resources and Desertification Research Institute / National Centre for Research (NCR), P.O. Box 2404, People Hall Khartoum, 11113, Sudan.

Ishtiag Hassan Abdalla Mohammed,
Environment and Natural Resources and Desertification Research Institute / National Centre for Research (NCR), P.O. Box 2404, People Hall Khartoum, 11113, Sudan.

Ahmed Ismail Ahmed Safi,
University of Kordofan, Institute of Gum Arabic Research and Desertification Studies, Elobeid, P.O. Box 160, Postal Code: 51111, Sudan.

Randa Elsir Elsayed Eltayeb,
Shendi University, Shendi, River Nile State, P.O. Box: 142 – 14, Sudan.

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