PRELIMINARY REARING TECHNIQUE FOR ATTACUS ATLAS (LEPIDOPTERA: SATURNIIDAE) A WILD SILK WORM OF INDIA

ABSTRACT

Sericulture is agro based industry. India is the only country where all four kinds of silks viz. Mulberry, Muga, Tasar and Eri are commercially exploited. Attacus atlas, Linnaeus (Lepidoptera: Saturniidae) is wild silk worm of India. Its conservation and exploitation in silk production is essential component of wild silk technology development in India. Therefore, rearing technique of A. atlas has been given in the paper. Cocoons were formed within 35-43 days. Cocoon weight, shell weight, shell length, shell width and shell thickness were 9.4 g, 1.82 g, 4.4 cm, 1.4 cm and 0.21 mm respectively, while shell ratio calculated was 19.32%. The rearing success of A. atlas was 15% on Angeer Ficus carica. The mated females laid 147 eggs and produced 22 offspring’s with an average sex ratio (m: f) 1: 0.75.

Key words:  Rearing technique, Attacus atlas, wild silkworm, India.

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