The bagworm, amicta quadrangularis (Christoph), and its natural enemies in northern egypt (lepidoptera: Psychidae)

Abstract

The bagworm, Amicta quadrangularis (Christoph) (Lepidoptera: Psychidae), was found infesting the white broom, Retana raetam (Frossk.) (Fabales: Fabaceae), a flowering wild plant native to northern Africa, in the desert area of Northern Egypt. This study sheds the light on some biological, morphological, and behavioral aspects of this insect species. A survey of the natural enemies associated with the larval stage revealed insectivorous birds (29–33%), a high percentage of parasitism by the ichneumonid, parasitoid species, Exeristes (Pimpla) roborator (Fab.) (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae) (8–11%), and the tachinid, Exorista (=Tachina) larvarum L. (Diptera: Tachinidae) (14–21%). The total percentage of attacking larvae by different natural enemies reached (51–65%) at the area of study.