Rearing Performance of Eri Silkworm, Samia cynthia ricini (Boiduval) (Lepidoptera: Saturniidae) on Cultivars of Castor

Abstract

Ericulture is considered as important for generating income and employment, use of silk and byproducts for various purposes and larvae and pupae as food and feed. Eri silk is produced by Samia cynthia ricini (Boiduval) (Lepidoptera: Saturniidae) and is multivoltine feeding on a wide range of food plants. Castor (Ricinus communis L.) serves as a food plant. The studies on Rearing Performance of eri silkworm on Castor Cultivars showed that the consumption indices of eri silkworm on fresh weight basis revealed highest total food consumption, total food digestion and approximate digestibility with the cultivar JC- 12 (31.35 g/larva, 22.65 g/larva and 84.94% respectively), consumption index was highest with GAUCH-1(6.06), GR in case of GAUCH-1 (0.35), mean ECI was highest in the cultivar DCH-177 (18.69 %). On a weight basis, GCH-4 cultivar resulted in highest food consumption of 13.97 g/larva, GAUCH-1 in highest food digestion, CI, GR and ECD (4.55 g/larva, 5.17, 0.36 and 20.72 %, respectively), however the mean AD was highest in the cultivar JC-12 (84.99 %).