Use of products containing phytoecdysteroid (PE) as active principle has become popular in prominent sericultural areas of India for hastening larval maturation events and synchronizing cocoon spinning activities as an obvious advantage is assured. At times, the present recommendation of administering PE at the onset of spinning results in peak labour requirement at odd hrs. To enable making recommendation for the use of PE on $multi{\times}bivoltine$ silkworm hybrids based on the climatic conditions prevailing in different areas especially with regard to temperature, the experiment was taken up to determine proper treatment times so that the induced spinning will be more orderly and the labour can be leveraged more efficiently. Different brackets of low ($18-22^{\circ}C$), medium ($24-28^{\circ}C$) and high ($29-32^{\circ}C$) temperature were simulated during the latter half of V larval instar and cocoon spinning. PE was administered to $multi{\times}bivoltine$ silkworm ($BL67{\times}CSR101$) hybrid batches as per the recommended dose at three different times viz., 10 am, 4 pm and 10 pm. Three replicates of 100 larvae were maintained for each treatment. Absolute controls were also maintained in each temperature range to compare the results. Cumulative maturation percentage was recorded at 6 hrs interval to ascertain peak mounting span. The influence of the treatment on the cocoon traits also was studied. Based on the peak mounting span, it was evident that in low temperature 10 pm treatment would be better. In medium and high temperature, treatment at 4 pm proved to be a better option. The influence of the treatment times at different temperature range on labour management is discussed.

Suppressor of cytokine signaling (SOCS) is known to be as a negative feedback regulator in Janus kinase signal transducer and activator of transcription signaling. Highly conserved SOCS box domain was cloned from a Korean malaria vector, Anopheles sinensis. Sequence analysis indicates that it has identity to Anopheles gambiae (96%), Aedes aegypti (94%), Drosophila melanogaster (78%), Mus musculus (72%) and Homo sapiens (72%), respectively. Tissue specificity RT-PCR demonstrated that the expression level of AsSOCS transcript was high at abdomen, midgut, and ovary, whereas developmental expression patterns showed that the level of AsSOCS was high at egg, early pupae, and adult female. On the other hand, RT-PCR analysis after bacterial challenge showed that SOCS mRNA was strongly induced in larvae. In addition, it was also induced by various immune elicitors such as lipoteicoic acid, CpG-DNA, and laminarin. It seems that AsSOCS, repressor of JAK-STAT pathway, is highly conserved in mosquito, and may play an important role in mosquito innate immune response.

Suppressor of cytokine signaling (SOCS) is known to playa key role as a negative feedback regulator in JAK/STAT signaling cascade in innate immunity. Our laboratory has recently been interested in elucidating the interactions between Spodoptera exigua (Se) and SeNPV. This context leads us to clone and characterize SeSOCS that may have important functions in response to SeNPV infection. Using the RT-PCR and TA cloning approach, we found a partial fragment (416 bp) of SeSOCS. Blast search and multiple alignment data showed that it has a homology to various insects such as Anopheles gambiae (78%), Aedes aegypti (75%), Drosophila melanogastar (77%), Mus musculus (69%), and Homo sapiens (69%). Temporal induction patterns of SeSOCS were analysed after being immune-challenged with either NPV or laminarin. It showed that the level of SeSOCS mRNA was strongly induced in a biphasic manner in response to SeNPV and laminarin, respectively. It seems that SOCS, a negative regulator of JAK/STAT signaling system is also present in S. exigua and may playa role in innate immunity albeit its precise role should be further elucidated at the molecular and cellular level in the early phase of SeNPV infection in larvae.

To elucidate the composition of bumblebee (Bomb us terrestris) venom (BBV) and the anti-inflammatory effect of BBV. The major components of BBV by LC chromatography and SDS-PAGE were identified. The production of nitric oxide (NO) and proinflammatory cytokines was examined by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in a macrophage cell line, RAW 264.7 cells, with BBV. BBV inhibits LPS-induced NO in a dose dependent manner. We also found that BBV inhibits proinflammatory cytokine, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-${\alpha}$ and interleukin (IL)-6 production. These findings mean that BBV can be used in controlling macrophages mediated inflammation related disease. Additional studies on the pharmacological aspects of the individual components of BBV are recommended for future trials.

Changes in the levels of protein and free amino acids in the haemolymph of three selected races of the silkworm, Bombyx mori viz., PM, $NB_4D_2$ and $CSR_2$, were investigated during 4th moult, 5th instar and pupal period. The levels of total protein in the haemolymph, increased from first day of 5th instar till sixth day. From seventh day till spinning, the protein levels decreased in all the three races. A sustained decrease in the haemolymph proteins was observed during the pupal development in all the three races. The levels of free amino acids, which were high during 4th moult, declined through the 5th age of larval development till spinning. PM showed a relatively higher free amino acid level (3.192 mg/ml) in haemolymph followed by $NB_4D_2$ (2.601 mg/ml) and $CSR_2$ (2.35 mg/ml). The free amino acid levels decreased gradually from prepupal stage but increased again at the end of pupal period. Racial differences in the changes in the levels of protein and free amino acids in the haemolymph were observed in the larvae and pupae when subjected to two high temperature regimes of $30^{\circ}C$ and $35^{\circ}C$. The results showed that high temperature induces specific changes in the metabolism (reversible thermal stress) that have different adaptive value in different races of the silkworm. Relatively higher increase in the free amino acid levels in the haemolymph of Pure Mysore presumably provides protective cover to tissues against high temperature by an increase in osmolarity and reduction in evaporative water loss. The absence of such a mechanism may be responsible for temperature susceptibility of the bivoltine races like $NB_4D_2$ and $CSR_2$.

Of all factors that govern productivity in sericulture, the role of silkworm egg is of prime importance. The production of silkworm seed involves a long chain of interdependent and highly specialized conditions. Female moths of Bombyx mori L. commence egg deposition immediately when the moths were decoupled. More than 60% of eggs are deposited within 4 hrs after decoupling i.e. 62.33% in CSR-3, 61.67% in CSR-6, 62.50% in CSR-16 and 63.28% in CSR-17. Almost 90% of eggs were laid in the first 12 hrs (93.13% in CSR-3, 90.81% in CSR-6, 89.71% in CSR-16 and 93.17% eggs in CSR-17) after decoupling. Almost 8 to 10% of more eggs were laid when oviposition period was prolonged upto 48 hrs instead of 24 hrs. The present investigation showed that a significant increase of 45 (8.34%), 50 (9.98%), 41 (8.26%) and 45 (8.30%) (P < 0.01) numbers of more eggs were found between 24 to 48 hrs (T6 to T9) in CSR-3, CSR-6, CSR-16 and CSR-17 races respectively. The findings of present investigation is very important for sericulture industry while producing layings to keep for different hibernation schedule especially for autumn/late autumn crop, female may be allowed for prolonged oviposition to get 8 -10% more eggs and farmer may fetch 8 -10 kg. more cocoon yield/l00 dfls with more income.

Multiplication and spore production of three microsporidia viz., Nosema bombycis, Nosema sp. 1 and Nosema sp. 2 in fifth instar larval tissues of silkworm, Bombyx mori L. in two seasons with distinct temperature regimes were studied. Nosema sp. 2 produced significantly (P < 0.01) higher number of spores in various tissues. Among the tissues, spore production was highest in silk gland, followed by fat body and gut. Spore production was significantly (P < 0.01) higher in season-II (Average temperature $29.4{\pm}1.1^{\circ}C$). Maximum spore production was observed 25 days post inoculation (p. i.) in season-I (Average temperature $18.9{\pm}1.1^{\circ}C$), whereas in season-II, it was 14 days p. i. In season-I, spore production was low up to 21 days p. i., then increased sharply. In season-II, there was a steady increase in spore production. The results indicate that the microsporidian multiplication is tissue specific and extremely sensitive to temperature at which the host is reared. It also reveals that, silk gland, fat body and gut are the most appropriate tissues for microscopic identification of microsporidia in the larval stage.

Central Sericultural Research and Training Institute, Mysore have evolved several highly productive bivoltine hybrids which can produce international grade raw silk. Among them $CSR2{\times}CSR4,\;CSR2{\times}CSR5,\;CSR3{\times}CSR6,\;CSR17{\times}CSR16,\;CSR18{\times}CSR19$ and $CSR12{\times}CSR6$ are being popularized in the field. There is a minimum difference in their economic characters but they appear to differ in survival. Though they are productive under high input management conditions, they are very susceptible to different diseases under normal rearing practices. No systematic attempts have been made to test their susceptibility status / resistance. Thus the present study is a modest attempt to screen the above six productive bivoltine hybrids to two important pathogens viz., Bombyx mori Nuclear Polyhedrosis Virus (BmNPV) and Bombyx mori Infectious Flacherie Virus (BmIFV) along with existing hybrid, $KA{\times}NB4D2$ to assess their susceptibility / resistance. The results shows that the productive hybrid $CSR2{\times}CSR4$ is the most resistant to BmNPV and it is suggested by its highest $LC_{50}$ value followed by $CSR12{\times}CSR6,\;KA{\times}NB4D2,\;CSR3{\times}CSR6,\;CSR17{\times}CSR16,\;CSR18{\times}CSR19,\;CSR2{\times}CSR5$. Based on the $LC_{50}$ value and $LT_{50}$ values for BmIFV, the hybrid $KA{\times}NB4D2$ was found to be the most resistant (1st position) one followed by $CSR3{\times}CSR6$ (2nd position) $CSR2{\times}CSR$ (3rd position) and $CSR12{\times}CSR6$ (4th position) $CSR17{\times}CSR16$, $CSR18{\times}CSR19$ (5th position) and $CSR2{\times}CSR5$ being the least. The response of 7 bivoltine hybrids to both the pathogens BmNPV and BmIFV indicates that, the hybrids $CSR2{\times}CSR4$, $CSR12{\times}CSR6$ and $KA{\times}NB4D2$ were found to be the most resistant when compared to others. Further, $KA{\times}NB4D2$ being less productive hybrid with a shell ratio of 20.08%, the other two hybrids $CSR2{\times}CSR4$ (Cocoon shell ratio, 21.44%) and $CSR12{\times}CSR6$ (cocoon shell ratio, 23.45%) can be considered to be most productive with superior quality cocoon and resistant to both BmNPV and BmIFV pathogens. The overall study indicated that the hybrid $CSR2{\times}CSR5$ is the most susceptible hybrid to both the pathogens.