Male silk moths for the post-mating activities of female Silkmoth Bombyx mori L.

Abstract

Male contribution of lipids to the female at the time of copulation was evaluated by measuring the lipid content in reproductive tissues of virgin and mated, male and female moths of Bombyx mori L. The lipid content was also measured after egg laying in both virgin and mated female moths. Lipid content decreased in the reproductive tissues of male moth after mating. In female contrary to male, a significant rise was observed in all the tissues. Following oviposition the lipid content decreased in all the tissues of both virgin and mated females, however, the loss was more in mated moths.