Central Tasar Research and Training Institute, Nagri, Ranchi-835 303, Bihar (India).
Normal mated female moths of Antheraea mylitta Drury laid 190±14 number of eggs and retained 27±2 number of chorionated mature eggs inside the ovariole. Severance of nerve connections present below the brain of 135-day old diapausing pupae of A. mylitta resulted in significant reduction in fecundity of mated moths. These insects laid 40±7 number of eggs and retained 108±9 number of eggs. Neck-ligation of female moths at 0, 12, 18, 24, and 48 h after mating completely prevented egg laying. But, females mated after neck-ligation and laid 5–88 number of eggs. This suggests that the process of egg laying was influenced by both the neural and endocrine factors from brain. Further, mating stimulated the process in the absence of brain, possibly by evoking a reflex oviposition regulated by the last abdominal ganglion.
