Sericulture

intro of sericulture & types of silk moth

1. Sericulture BY Miss. Mayuri Bhowate

2. INTODUCTION Sericulture is the rearing of silkworms to produce silk Derived from Greek word ‘ sericos ’ means silk It is an agro-industry as well as a cottage industry India is the second largest silk producing country in the world after C hina Silk is the fibrous protein also produced by other animals like spiders, lepidopteran More than 400-500 species are known to produce silk Silk used in textile industry.

3. History According to Chinese evidences, the discovery of silk production starts from 2,700 B.C. Ancient Chinese tale state that silk discovered accidently by that times great prince Hong T i’s wife Si Ling Chi After that she raise the silkworms for the silk & use to make garments For respect to her they give her special title ‘Seine-Than’ or “The Goddess of Silk Worms” After 300 A.D. sericulture travelled Westward & cultivation of the silkworm was established in India According to tradition, the egg of insect & the seed of mulbeery tree were carried to India concealed in the headdress of a Chinese princess

4. Types of Silk Moth Silkworm is the larva of silk moth Thy are divided into mulberry silkworm & non-mulberry silkworm Non-mulberry silkworms are 3 types Eri silkworms ( P hilosamia cynthia ) Muga silkworm ( Antheraea assamensis ) Tasar silkworm ( Antheraea mylitta )

5. 1. Mulberry silkworm ( Bombyx mori ) Classification of muberry silkworm Phylum- Arthropoda Class- Insecta Order- Lepidoptera Family- Bombycidae Genus- Bombyx Species- mori Silkworms which feed on mulberry leaves called mulberry silkworm Also classified according to the distribution, no. of generation produced in a year & no. of moults produced during their larval life

6. Based on distribution Divided into 4 races Chinese , Japanese , European , Indian silkworms Based on no. of moults in life cycle , Indian silkworms is grouped into 3 types Tri-moulters , tetra-moulters , penta -moulters Based on no. of brood produced in a year, classified into 3 races Univoltines , bivoltines , multivoltines Voltinism “ a term indicate the number of broods or generation of an organism in a year ” Univoltines - T hey are the silkworms that produce only one generation per yer example: European races Bivoltines – Produced two generation per year ex: Chinese races Multivoltines – Produced more than 3 generations per year ex: Indian race Voltinism is also controlled by environmental factors like light & temp.

7. 2. Non-Mulberry silkworms Do not feed on mulberry leaves , but feed on castor leaves 3 types Eri Moth – Classification Phylum- Arthropoda Class- Insecta Order- Lepidoptera Family- Saturniidae Genus- Philosamia Species- cynthia Eri moth

8. Eri Silkworm Used to produced silk fabric Not domesticated like mulberry silkworm Moth has very large wings of 113-125 mm Found in north east India & some parts of China , Japan . Imported to Thailand in 1974 Eri derived from Assamese word “era” means castor Eri silk also known as endi or errandi in india Eri silk is red in colour Fibre is not continous Proper reeling is not possible

9. Muga moth 2. Muga Moth Classification Phylum- Arthropoda Class- Insecta Order- Lepidoptera Family- Saturniidae Genus- Antheraea Species- assamensis Also called Assam silkmoth Found in Assam in North east India where 99 % of its production occurs The female has large abdomen & slender antennae compared to male

10. Muga silkworm Was reserved for royal families in Assam for 600 years. The larvae are vibrantly coloured One of variety of tussar silk Known for it’s extreme durability Silk is yellowish-golden in colour with a shimmering , glossy txture This silkworm feeds on som & soalu leaves Used in making products like saris, chadors, mekhalas

11. Tasar Moth 3. Tasar Moth Classification Phylum- Arthropoda Class- Insecta Order- Lepidoptera Family- Saturniidae Genus- Antheraea Species- mylitta Also known as vanya silkworm Produce tussar silk , a kind of wild silk

12. Tasar silkworm The genus Antheraea found in China, Japan, India This species is variable , with at least 44 identified ecoraces Feeds on mainly on Terminalia & on Shorea robusta Also feeds on other different plants like Indian jujube, alexwood , jambul , kumbi , teak , etc Silks colour & durability is depends on species The worms are univoltine or bivoltine Cocoons may be easily reeled