Ravi Kumara R*.
Department of Sericulture Science, University of Mysore, Mysuru-570006, India
Email: ravisilkstar5@gmail.com
Received-05.09.2023, Revised-18.09.2023, Accepted-28.09.2023
Abstract: Eri silkworm (Samia ricini Donovan) is a domesticated and most exploited non-mulberry silkworm in India. It is polyphagous in nature and feeds on over 30 species of host plants, although Castor and Kessaru are the most important host plants. An attempt was made to rear the Eri silkworm with the leaves of the non-host plant Macaranga peltata (Euphorbiaceae), which is an abundantly occurring early successional woody species in the Western Ghats region of Karnataka. The Eri silkworm completed its life cycle from egg to adult within 66 days (five generations). The larval growth and development and the cocoons economic characteristics were found to be normal as Castor leaves fed worms. The average fecundity (377±4.36 nos), hatchability (83.23±1.81%), mature larval weight (6.45±1.16 g), pupal weight (2.40±1.01% g), cocoon weight (2.88±0.12 g), shell weight (0.43±0.31 g) and shell percentage (12.54±0.77 %) showed that Macaranga peltata is a potential new host host to Eri silkworm for commercial rearing.
Keywords: Erisilkworm, Ericulture, Host plant
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