• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• 제19권2호
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• pp.243-248
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• 2009

The Larval critical weight is the minimal mass at which further growth in not necessary for a normal time course to pupation. Larval critical weight (Lcw), pupal critical weight (Pcw) and adult critical weight (Acw) of different breeds of Bombyx mori L. were determined through starvation (food deprivation). The Lcw was found to be about 938.46, 2397.26, 2283.57 and 2220.97 mg in males and 1118.15, 2681.04, 2604.9 and 2455.88 mg in females of the multivoltine breed (Nistari), Bivoltine breeds (P5 & NB18) and their hybrid (P5$\times$NB18) respectively. Bivoltine breed P5 took more time (3.35 days) followed by NB18 (3.13 days) & P5$\times$NB18 (3.02 days) to attain larval critical weight (In $5^{th}$ Instar) than the multivoltine breed Nistari (2.42 days). Decrease in weight from larval maximal weight to pupal weight and to adult weight was also observed more in multivoltine than bivoltines, which may be due to more latent feeding period in bivoltines. Since Lcw is a stable character and independent of environment, it could be utilized for characterization of silkworm breeds to assess the quality of an insect.