P.G. Department of Zoology, St. John's College, Palayamkottai-627 002, Tamil Nadu (India).
The increase in feeding duration in silkworm, Bombyx mori L., from 3 to 24 h a day resulted in a decrease in consumption rate (from 102 mg/g/day in 3 h fed group to 89 mg/g/day in 24 h fed group), assimilation rate and metabolic rate, but an increase in conversion rate and gross and net conversion efficiencies, (from 14% in 3 h fed group to 62% in 24 h fed group). Restriction of feeding duration affected the egg production in terms of number and biomass and first instar weight considerably. Production efficiency % (PE) increased with the increase in feelling duration from 3 h to 24 h a day, when PE was calculated for conversion rate; whereas the trend was reversed when PE was calculated in terms of consumption rate.
