Department of Entomology, Faculty of Agriculture, Annamalai University, Annamalainagar - 608 002, Tamil Nadu, India
Eri silkworm rearing was conducted to evaluate the suitability of artificial diets to mitigate host plant requirements during unfavorable conditions. Late-age eri silkworm worms were fed with both castor and tapioca-based diets. In control, leaves of the respective host plants were given. Larvae fed on a castor-based diet from the fifth instar onwards recorded the least larval duration among the artificial diet treatments. Fifth-instar larvae fed a castor-based diet recorded a better shell ratio (11.06%) than larvae fed on the tapioca-based diet. Nil healthy moths were developed in both castor and tapioca-based diets reared fourth and fifth instar larvae. These results proved the unsuitability of both artificial diets for rearing and it must be improved further concerning the anti-nutritional factors present in the diets.
Artificial diets, Growth and development, Economic parameters, Samia ricini
