Abstract

RELATIVE IMPACT OF DIETARY VARIATIONS ON THE LARVAL CULTURE OF PHILOSAMIA RICINI BSD. (SATURNIIDAE: LEPIDOPTERA)

Amita Darshi*, Pramod Kumar and Sarfaraz Ali

Abstract

The present communication accounts for the relative impact of larval culture of eri silkworm, Philosamia ricini on the foliages of Castor (Ricinus communis) and Tapioca (Manihot utilissima) food plants in respect of productivity and quality of eri cocoons during different seasons. The results obtained are indicative of the fact that the larval weight, effective rate of rearing, cocoon weight, shell weight, shell ratio of eri cocoons reared on Castor food plant as compared to Topioca food plant are evidently better during the rainy season than the summer and winter seasons. The finding appears to be the outcome of impacts of dietary variations and seasonal changes which is inconfirmities with the earlier investigations carried out by different sericologists.

Keywords: P. ricini, Foliages, Saturniidae, Eri & E.R.R (Effective rate of rearing).