Abstract
We report for the first time predation of evergreen bagworms, Thyridopteryx ephemeraeformis (Haworth) (Lepidoptera: Psychidae), by English Sparrows, Passer domesticus (L.). Sparrows were removing bagworm bags from a juniper planting and carried them to sheltered locations. They fed on the larvae by squeezing their bags repeatedly from one end to the other (to squeeze out guts and hemolymph) or by vigorously shaking the bag to eject the larvae. Of 359 bagworm bags that had accumulated on sidewalks and under nearby trees, birds had apparently completely extracted larvae from 62% of the bags and killed another 36% of larvae.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 350-352 |
| Number of pages | 3 |
| Journal | Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington |
| Volume | 102 |
| Issue number | 2 |
| State | Published - May 9 2000 |
Keywords
- Bird behavior
- Ornamental plants
- Population regulation
- Predation
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics
- Insect Science