22 Ara 2024 Pazar
Biodiversity of sericigenous Saturniidae of Manipur in India
Abstract :The
biodiversity of sericigenous Saturniidae
producing silks was surveyed, and thirteen different species were collected
from the Northeast region of India, particularly Manipur. The collected wild
silk moths belong to six genera, Antheraea,
Actias, Attacus, Samia,Cricula and Rhodinia.
Of these, seven species belong to Antheraea,
two to Samia and one each to Actias, Attacus, Criculaand Rhodinia. Antheraeaproylei, A. pernyi, A.
assamensis, and Samia ricini are commercially exploited for seed and silk
production, while Antheraea roylei, Antheraea compta, Samia canningi, Attacus atlas, Antheraea frithi and Antheraea
helferi yield silk products but are yet to be exploited. Seasonal incidence
pattern of wild silkworm species revealed that S. canningi and A. atlas
occurred throughout the year except December and January. The population
densities of a few species like R. newara,
A. helferi, A. roylei and A. compta
were low and scattered. However, A.
frithi population reached more than one lakh in wild condition indicating
the best adaptability to build up the population in the prevailing ecological
conditions of the region. Economic parameters among
the sericigenous species indicate highest 642�33.10m filament length in A. frithi, which is comparable to the
commercially exploited species, A.
proylei (635�48.05m). Hence sericigenous saturniids have economic
parameters and so need multiplication for silk production. Therefore, the need
of the hour is conservation of sericigenous species in the region, thereby
improving the livelihood of the tribal inhabitants and maintaining the
ecological balance
Biodiversity,
sericigenous Saturniidae, silk moths, silk yarn, conservation