Studies on the emergence behaviour of the oak tasar silkmoth, Antheraea proylei Jolly

摘要

 The Indian oak tasar silkworm, Antheraea proylei Jolly behaves uni- and weak bivoltinism depending upon the prevailing environmental conditions. The silkworm undergoes pupal diapause for about eight months (June to January) after spring crop. During prolonged preservation, large quantity of seed cocoons are lost due to erratic emergence, pupal mortality, decrease in vigour, etc. The main reason behind erratic emergence could be attributed to weak voltinism of the silkworm. However, the maintenance of suitable environmental conditions during the preservation of cocoon plays a key role for emergence of moths. The summer or autumn crop can be taken up by breaking the pupal diapause subjecting to photoperiodic treatment of the seed cocoons. Considering the problems in relation to emergence of moths encountered by the silkmoth, observations were made exclusively on different aspects of emergence pattern of A. proylei during normal grainage period in spring crop and long preservation (pupal diapausing) period in the present study