Half male half female: A rare prodigy of gynandromorphism in tasar silkworm Antheraea mylitta D (Saturniidae: Lepidoptera) with special reference to its procreative behaviour

Abstract

Gynandromorphs are organisms which exhibit both male and female characteristics. This does not necessarily mean that it possesses both male and female reproductive organs, such as seen in hermaphroditic animals, as this article highlights about half- male, half female moth of Antheraea mylitta Drury spotted in Central Tasar Research and Training Institute, Ranchi, Jharkhand still expressed a female gynandromorphy in behaviour and morphologically appears to be known as a bilateral gynandromorph. This particular study has proved that genitalia of gynandromorph was similar to the female reproductive system and thus it could able to mate with normal male and that coupling has resulted in production of fertile offspring. A total of 133 eggs were laid by gynandromorph moth and 77.44% of hatching has been obtained. Longevity study showed that gynandromorph moth survived up-to 10 days. Further, the study on gynandromorphs offspring revealed that they showed normal growth and development in their life cycle and their economic characteristics has been documented.