Food plant varietal effect on the rearing and grainage of Muga Silkworm, Antheraea assamensis Helfer, 1837

Abstract :

The food plant varietal effect of muga silkworm, Anthereae assamensis Helfer was analysed on the six characters viz. effective rate of rearing (ERR), cocoon weight, cocoon shell weight, cocoon shell ratio (SR%), percentage of valid moth and fecundity by rearing on Som, Persea bombycina Kost. and Soalu, Litsea polyantha Juss during five different seasons. We observed higher cocoon weight in soalu than that of som while shell ratio was significantly higher in som than that of soalu in most of the seasons. In grainage parameters, soalu exhibited significant higher values than som in all the seasons indicating its superiority as seed crop. It can be deduced that commercial rearing of muga silkworm Anthereae assamensis Helfer can be taken up on both the food plants while for seed crop rearing should be conducted on soalu plants irrespective of seasons


Keyword :

Muga, som, soalu , rearing, grainage


Author(s) : Singh, N. I., Goswami, D.
Downloads : 1887
Published Issue : 2012 Vol. 7 Number 2


2012 Vol. 7 Number 2