1Department of Zoology, S.G.H.R & M.C.M.R. Post Graduate College, Acharaya Nagarjuna University, Guntur, Andhra Pradesh-522 520. India.
2Department of Zoology, Sri KrishnaDevaraya University, Anantapur, Andhra Pradesh-515 003, India.
Department of Zoology, Acharaya Nagarjuna University, Guntur-522 510, Andhra Pradesh, India
*Corresponding author's E-mail: mudejagadishnaik@yahoo.co.in
Mulberry fields are occasionally contaminated with pests and insects. In the present study fifth instar larvae PM × Nb4D2 (Multi × bivoltine hybrid) silkworm were selected for feeding with mealybugs (called as tukra) infested mulberry leaves and fresh mulberry leaves. SDH enzyme activities were estimated in haemolymph and fat bodies of the silkworm The SDH activity gradually increased, this increase however was significant (P>0.05). the elevation in lDH activity gradually progressed from day 3 to day 6, in the order: day 3<4<5<6; and the magnitude of increase between one day to the other were statistically significant. SDH and LDH activities indicates enhanced anaerobic glycolysis and oxidative metabolism in the leucocytes of the silkworms when Mealybug (M. hirsutus) does not occurs heavily in the mulberry leaves when the silkworms feed on mulberry leaves. the result indicated that mealybug infested mulberry feed has no adverse effect on silkworm rearing. Moreover, overall improvement was noticed when mealy bug infested leaves were and the resultant batch was sturdy suggesting that even mealybugs infested mulberry leaves can also be effectively utilized for the silkworm rearing in acute shortage of healthy mulberry leaves.
