IMPROVISED METHOD FOR MINIMIZING THE PUPAL MORTALITY AND PRESERVATION OF SEED COCOONS OF ANTHERAEA MYLITTA D. (LEPIDOPTERA: SATURNIIDAE)

摘要

Bivoltine and trivoltine eco races of Antheraea mylitta D. utilize natural tasar food plants round the year. These races provide employment and earning to the tribes and also increase the production of tasar silk in India. The second generation of bivoltine races undergoes pupal diapause for 6-7 months and third generation of trivoltine in 4-5 months. During this diapause period pupae experiences extremes of temperature and low relative humidity. Central Tasar Research and Training Institute, Nagri, Ranchi (Jharkhand) has devised a model grainage house for the preservation of the seed cocoons. Suitable modification has been made for the preservation of seed cocoons in this existing grainage house. The present innovation has minimized the pupal mortality of the seed cocoons with better grainage performance and it is also economically viable.