TRAUMATIC EFFECT OF TEMPERATURE ON ANTHERAEA ASSAMA WESTWOOD

摘要

The embryonic and pupal stages of Antheraea assama Westwood when subjected to temperature shock treatments, met with certain traumatic changes which were manifested in different forms. Percentage of hatching was much reduced with exposure of embryonicstages to both cold and heat shock. In pupal exposure to cold shock, there was reduction in per cent emergence of normal winged adult, number of mating pairs, number of eggs produced and percentage of hatching. The pupal exposure to heat shock was similarly detrimental and rather caused increased per cent mortality. The results are discussed in relation to the impact of sudden change of temperature on production of muga silk.