• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.169-173
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• 2002

A practical technology for silkworm disease management at farmer\\`s level was suggested and test verified for its efficacy and adaptability. The technology consisted of disinfection of rearing house and appliances, early disease diagnosis, personal and rearing hygiene and silkworm body and rearing seat disinfection. Besides, the supportive techniques associated in disease management are cited. The validation trials of the technology involving 845 farmers crops with 147,530 disease free layings (dfls) of CSR bivoltine hybrids confirmed the effectiveness of the technology which resulted an average yield of 68.98 kg cocoons/100 dfls.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.74-80
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• 2013

Three new Multi ${\times}$ Bi combinations M.Con.4 ${\times}$ (SK6 ${\times}$ SK7), M.Con.4 ${\times}$ NB4D2 and Nistari ${\times}$ (SK6 ${\times}$ SK7) were studied in five seasons i.e. during the period of $18^{th}$ June - $12^{th}$ July, $30^{th}$ August - $23^{rd}$ September, $3^{rd}$ November - $2^{nd}$ December, $29^{th}$ January- $2^{nd}$ March and $30^{th}$ March-$25^{th}$ April with one control Nistari ${\times}$ NB4D2 considering nine reeling characteristics along with shell percent and cocoon yield per 100 disease free layings (DFLs) to establish the seasonal effect on all the parameters. Results reveal that all the characters performed well in November-December. Highest yield per 100 DFLs was recorded during November-December in all combinations showing >60 kg yield. Higher correlation of yield/100 DFLs with filament length, non-breakable filament length, denier, raw silk percent, reelability percent and recovery percent was recorded in all combinations of Multi ${\times}$ Bi considered in this study. Variability observed among four combinations indicates the effect of different temperature and humidity of different seasons on expression of different traits. The results indicate that there is significant relationship of raw silk percent with reelability percent, recovery percent and evenness. Reelability percent showed higher correlation with recovery percent. It was observed that neatness was positively correlated with evenness. The overall performance of the newly evolved combinations with regard to productivity and reeling characteristics is discussed emphasizing their utilization at commercial level.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.139-143
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• 2005

The implications of temperature (25, 30 and $35^{\circ}C$) and relative humidity (RH; 60, 70 and $80\%$) on the hatching rhythmicity and hatching parameters (percentage and duration) were studied in the silkworm, Bombyx mori L. under natural photoperiod (LD 12 : 12). Disease free layings (DFLs) of two pure silkworm breeds, Pure Mysore (PM, a multivoltine breed) and $NB_4D_2$ (a bivoltine breed), and their hybrid, $PM{\times}NB_4D_2$ were introduced into the experimental conditions on the $3^{rd}$ day of oviposition till completion of hatching. The hatching rhythm was predominantly diurnal under all temperature and humidity conditions, with peaks just after 'lights-on' phase (6 hrs). Extreme temperature and humidity conditions did not alter the hatching rhythmicity, but prolonged the hatching durations, extending it to the next day, coupled with reduced hatching percentage in PM and $PM{\times}NB_4D_2{\cdot}In\;NB_4D_2$, on the other hand, hatching did not extend to the next day. Hatching percentage in this breed, however, reduced below the economic level under high temperature and low humidity conditions. The high temperature and low humidity together, though did not alter the rhythmicity, seems to exert synergetic effect on the hatching percentage and its duration in the silkworm, B. mori.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.107-111
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• 2005

Impact of microsporidian infection and season on reproductive potential of Bombyx mori L. was investigated in the laboratory. Microsporidian infection significantly (P<0.01) reduced fecundity and hatching and increased sterility and mortality of eggs. Among the microsporidia, Nosema sp. 2 infected silkworm produced eggs with least fecundity and hatching percent as well as highest dead and sterile eggs followed by Nosema sp. 1 and N. bombycis. Microsporidia, in general, significantly reduced fecundity and hatching percent of eggs and increased number of dead and sterile eggs in all the three seasons except N. bombycis in July - August (S3) and Nosema sp. 2 in January February (S1). Since, seed production is the anchor sheet of mulberry sericulture, coefficient of egg lying is considered as an important aspect and the industry quite often facing shortage of disease free layings. The present study indicates that B. mori is more susceptible to microsporidia during S2 followed by S3 and S1 and Nosema sp2. is most virulent followed by Nosema spl. and N. bombycis.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.58-63
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• 2015

An experimental rearing of tropical tasar silkworm, Antheraea mylitta Drury was conducted to study silkworm-food plant-interaction and thereby to search for an alternate silkworm food plant. The silkworm-food-plant-interaction was studied with six different food plant species viz. Terminalia tomentosa, Terminalia arjuna, Terminalia belerica, Terminalia chebula of Combretaceae family and Lagerstroemia speciosa, Lagerstroemia parviflora of Lythraceae family. The rearing performance of silkworm on Lagerstroemia speciosa in terms of cocoons per DFL and silk ratio was found comparable with Terminalia tomentosa and Termonalia arjuna, the primary tasar silkworm food plant species. These three plant species also possessed better results in terms of physiological (leaf moisture content and net photosynthesis rate) and biochemical (Chlorophyll, protein, carbohydrate and crude fibre contents) characteristics to support silkworm rearing than Terminalia belerica, Terminalia chebula and Lagerstroemia parviflora. The correlation study between silkworm rearing performance and food plant's constituents indicates commercial perspective of Lagerstroemia speciosa as an alternate food plant for tasar silkworm rearing.