• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.83-91
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• 2002

The protection of silkworm and its host plants from various kinds of pests parasite and predator is a chronic problem in sericulture. Silkworms and its primary food plants are heavily damaged by large number of pest. The major pests of primary tasar food plants (Terminalia arjuna and Terminalia tomentosa) are the gall insect (Trioza fletcheri minor). Various species of aphids (Eutrichosiphum sp.) have been recorded to damage oak tasar food plants whereas muga silkworm host plants (Machilus bombycina and Litsaea polyantha) are generally attacked by stem bores (Zeuzera multistrigata). Castor (Ricinus communis) is one of the primary host plant of eri silkworm and extensive damage is caused by the castor white fly (Trialeurodes ricini). Insects pests are major enemies of silkworms. Parasites (Blepharipa zebina, Exorista bombycis, Apateles glomeratus), predators (Canthecona furcellata, Sycanus collaris, Hierodulla bipapilla), wasps (Vespa orientalix) and ants (Oecophylla smargdina) continues to cause damage to silk industry. It is estimated that the losses due to parasites and predators are to an extent of 15-20 percent and varies from crop to crop. The complexities in the behaviour and life cycle of pest population existing in semi ecosystem warrant a special attention for their effective management specially in changing scenario for our modern sericulture. Though use of synthetic insecticides has provided us with effective control of almost all major pests and predators, yet their undesirable side effects limit their continued use. Biological control is one of the most important method which can be used to control the pests, parasites and predators population in sericulture. Various potential parasitoids, which can be utilized as an agent of biological control in sericulture have been screened. The natural enemies of the uzi fly (E. bombycis and B. zebina ) are already present in the nature. Nesolynx thymus, Trichria sp., Splangia endius, Dirhinus sp., Trichopria sp., Trichomalopsis apanteloctena and Pediobius sp. are the major parasitoids effective against uzi fly pupa. The scelionid Psix striaticeps and Trissolcus sp. are the Potential egg Parasitoids against stink bug (Canthecona furcellata). Various other native natural potential parasitoids have been screened and suitable strategies have been developed to check the population of pest insect in sericulture.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.143-154
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• 2009

Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) are the most frequent form of variation in the genome of any organism. Owing to their greater abundance, they are considered useful for identifying cultivars, construction of higher density linkage maps, and detection of genes (QTLs) associated with complex agronomic traits and diseases. Although, SNPs have been used recently for constructing a high density genetic map in silkworm and a set of 118 SNPs have been identified in tasar silkworms, not much progress has been made in sericulture to utilize the vast potential of SNPs. Thus, this review mainly focuses on some of the important methods of SNP discovery, validation and genotyping. Emphasis has also been given to the possible uses of SNP genotyping in the improvement of silkworms and their host plants.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.145-149
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• 2003

Seeing inadequate disinfection and unhygenic condition in rearing area, use of disease resistant silkworm variety is the best option. In order to this, an attempt has been made to develop the resistance to Bombyx mori densonucleosis virus (BmDNV-2) into a susceptible silkworm breed Zhenon1 by cross breeding with a resistant silkworm breed SU12 and exposing the subsequent generations to BmDNV-2 followed by the selection of individuals from the surviving batches. After seven generation the evolved DNV-2 resistant strain showed the significantly higher resistance to BmDNV-2 than control Zhenon1. The economic characters of both of the breeds were almost on par.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2007

In order to find out the appropriate parents for the breeding programme, twelve bivoltine and three multivoltine silkworm breeds were evaluated on the basis of multivariate selection index and isozyme analysis. Of which, four [CSR2, D6 (P), SK3, SK4] bivoltine and two multivoltine (Nistari, Cambodge) breeds were selected and breeding initiated to develop higher survival bivoltine silkworm breed suitable for tropical conditions. Among two isozyme (Esterase and acid phosphatase) analyzed, only esterase exhibited polymorphism among the bivoltine breeds. No polymorphism was observed among multivoltine in respect of esterase as well as acid phosphatase.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.109-113
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• 2008

Realizing the scope of utilizing by-products of silk cocoons by applying appropriate methods is the immediate crave to optimize returns. The nutritive value of pupae suits for human diet, feed for poultry, carps, fish, rabbits, piggery and dogs. The pupal skin, fat, oil, cocoon palade have applications in oleo chemical, soap, glycerin, cosmetic, artificial fibres, membranes and n-triacontanol isolation. The pupal proteins Chitin, Shinki fibroin, Serrapeptidase, glucosamine are latent precursors of post surgical, anti-carcinogenic, anti-inflammative, anti-bacterial, anti-histaminic, gastric, hepatitis, pancreatitis, leukocytopenia, neurological, ophthalmic, blood pressure, cardiac and diabetic medicines and for preparation of vitamins A, E and K. The silk and its proteins sericin and fibroin are potentially used for wound healing, diabetes, impotence, sinusitis, arthritis, edema, cystitis, epididymitis, tissue regeneration, cancer, post-surgical trauma and used as anti-oxidatives, bio-adhesives, ultra violet screens and bio-active textiles. The waste cocoons can be used in making art crafts like garlands, carpets, overcoats, decoratives and greeting cards. The in-depth research towards utility optimization and make aware this reality to sericulturists, reelers, weavers, traders, entrepreneurs, policy makers etc., is the upright want of the today's Sericulture industry.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.69-74
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• 2010

Feeding is an important aspect of insect nutrition which in turn supports growth, development, reproduction and survival. The impact of quantitative feeding on nutritional parameters of fifth instar Antheraea mylitta larvae was studied by providing fresh leaves of Terminalia tomentosa for 1 to 4 times a day. All the parameters improved upon providing fresh diets more times over the single diet (1FD). The absolute body weight increased with increase in number of feeds/day significantly (P<0.001). While the maximum weight recorded was 29.61 g in 1FD, the respective weights for two feeds/day (2FD), three feeds/day (3FD) and four feeds/day (4FD) were 39.41 g, 40.63 g and 42.66 g respectively. Feeding period and instar duration were declined (P<0.001) and survival increased significantly (P<0.001) upon increase in the number of diets. Nutritional indices like ingestion, digestion, relative consumption rate (RCR), relative growth rate (RGR) and gain in body weight increased significantly with the increase in number of feeds/day, but approximate digestibility (AD) and efficiency of conversion of ingested food (ECI) declined, while efficiency of conversion of digested food (ECD) did not change.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.121-131
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• 2016

Ten microsporidian isolates from Samia cynthia ricini, and Antheraea assamensis in India along with a Nosema reference strain (NIK-1s_mys) from B. mori India were characterised morphologically and molecular based tools. The test isolates observed elongated oval in shape while reference strain was oval and ranging from 3.80 to 4.90 m in length and 2.60 to 3.05 m in width. The ribosomal DNA region 'IGS' of test isolates assessed by PCR amplification, followed by cloning and sequencing. IGS sequence and phylogenetic analysis of test microsporidian isolates showed very close relationship with three Nosema references species: N. philosamia, N. antheraea isolated from Philosamia cynthia ricini and Antheraea perny in China respectively and N. disstriae from Malacosma disstriae in Canada. The clustering pattern of dendogram reveals all test isolates appear distinct from Nosema std. (NIK-1s_mys) India used as reference strain in the study. The result suggests IGS indeed a suitable and highly applicable molecular tool for identifying and characterise the microsporidian isolates in similar population.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.166-179
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• 2013

In India, forest based insect enterprises has never been linked up with any forest management activity, either as a forest conservation strategy or to reduce the poverty in forested area. This investigation indicated that when forest dependent people are associated with forest insect industry (FII) like forest sericulture, lac culture or apiculture; this income generating activity links livelihood with forest conservation, and generates a viable model of collaborative forest management (CFM). In this model different stakeholders work together as a coherent entity for unified goal of managing the forest for well-being of the poor people in fringe areas. Article summaries and evaluates the prospect of India specific forest insect industry, and discusses how and to what extent integration of FII could be a viable livelihood component in CFM to conserve the forest and insect biodiversity. We analysed a case study on forestbased rearing of tropical tasar silkworm rearing in Central India from CFM perspective. Arguments in this communication are intended to provide forest managers and policy-makers with necessary input to consider location specific FII in CFM mode to provide a continuous source of small income to forest dependent people to ensure long lasting success of their forest management endeavours.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.51-59
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• 2005

Genetic diversity within and between populations of Antheraea mylitta Drury was studied using thirty individuals from three ecoraces using 12 ISSR and 10 RAPD primers. Rally, Daba and Modal ecoraces were collected from Chattisgarh, Jharkhand and Orissa states of India respectively. The ISSR and RAPD primers generated $94.7\%$ and $95.6\%$ polymorphism among the 30 individuals. The cluster analysis grouped these individuals according to their ecorace. The intra-ecoracial heterozygosity estimated with ISSR markers were $0.123{\pm}0.18,\;0.169{\pm}0.17\;and\;0.214{\pm}0.17$ respectively for Modal, Raily and Daba ecoraces. Like wise, with RAPD markers the intraecoracial heterozygosity was $0.17{\pm}0.22$ in Modal, $0.229{\pm}0.17$ in Raily and $0.23{\pm}0.19$ in Daba ecoraces. However, the significantly low genetic differentiation (GST) (0.182 for ISSR and 0.161 for RAPD) and the high gene flow (Nm) (2.249 for ISSR and 2.60 for RAPD markers) among the ecoraces revealed that the amount of genetic diversity present among the ecoraces is not significant enough to make drastic genetic drifts among these ecoraces in the near future.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.37-43
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• 2010

The wild silkworm, Antheraea mylitta Drury (Lepidoptera: Saturniidae) is a polyphagous silk producing insect that feeds on Terminalia arjuna, T. tomentosa and Shorea robusta and is distributed in the forest belts in different states of India. Phenotypically distinct populations of the A. mylitta are called "eco-race" or "ecotypes". Genetic improvement of this wild silkworm has not progressed much due to lack of adequate information on the factors that control the expression of most of the economically important traits. Considering the amazing technological advances taking place in molecular biology, it is envisaged that it is now possible to take greater control on these intractable traits if a combination of genetic, molecular and bioinformatics tools are used. Linkage disequilibrium (LD) mapping is one such approach that has extensively been used in both animal and plant system to identify quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for a number of economically important traits. LD mapping has a number of advantages over conventional biparental linkage mapping. Therefore, LD mapping is considered more efficient for gene discovery to meet the challenge of connecting sequence diversity with heritable phenotypic differences. However, care must be taken to avoid detection of spurious associations which may occur due to population structure and variety interrelationships. In this review, we discuss how LD mapping is suitable for the dissection of complex traits in wild silkworms (Antheraea mylitta).