Biological Forum-An International Journal

4

Authors: B. Choudhury, Rajesh Kumar*, Preetirekha Chutia and Girin Rajkhowa

ABSTRACT: Muga silkworm, Antheraea assamensis (Heilfer), which produces the golden yellow silk is reared outdoor on two primary food plants; som (Persaea bomycina King) and soalu (Litsaea monopetela). It completes six crop/annum with two commercial crops viz., Spring (May-June) and Autumn (October-November) and each commercial crop is preceded by pre-seed crops and seed crops. Owing to its inherent outdoor mode of rearing and multivoltinism, the silkworm is exposed to a complex of pest and predators and diseases during rearing period, especially in pre seed and seed crops. It is observed that during winter seed crops viz., Aghenua (November-January) and Chotua (February-March), uzifly (Exorista philippinensis and Blepheripa zebina).