Threat assessment of Manatha albipes Moore (Lepidoptera: Psychidae) from Kerala, India using GIS with comments on its taxonomy, biology, distribution and host plants.

The detailed description of the distribution, morphology and relationships with host plants (19 species; 15 new records as host plants) of Manatha albipes from Kerala, India is presented here. Significant differences in the morphology from populations of M. albipes from other areas of India have been described. The larval stages of these moths are polyphagous and cause low to severe damage in host plants. The mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase 1 sequence of 692 bp length was sequenced and deposited in NCBI Genbank with the accession number MN717272.The sequence analysis confirms the identity of M. albipes as distinct from other closely related species of bagworms. M. albipes is not yet a major pest in Kerala but is emerging as a threat in the monocultures of neighbouring states. We demonstrate how many plant species in human altered habitations are carryover sources for M. albipes. Preliminary distribution map and threat analysis of the species in the state based on known land use data using GIS tools indicates large areas of agricultural land to be under threat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]