Abstract
Borduar ecorace of eri silkworm was reared on Castor, Ricinus communis Linn, Kesseru, Heteropanax fragrans Seem, Tapioca, Manihot utilissima and Barpat, Ailanthus grandis in two favourable seasons, Autumn (Sept.-Nov.) and Spring (Feb.-April) to study the reproductive as well as ovipositional behaviour of eri silkmoth with respect to different food plants. Moth emergence pattern, single moth weight, wing span of a single moth were studied after feeding with foliage of four different host plants and Castor, Ricinus communis was found to be most suited host plant for eri silkworm in all aspects. The percentage of unemerged cocoon was comparatively less in case of Castor than that in other food plants. Both potential and effective fecundity in terms of eggs, egg size, fertilization of eggs and hatching were found higher in case of Castor. In all aspects, Tapioca and Barpat were found less suitable than Castor and Kesseru. Further, Tapioca was found least suitable among all the four food plants studied in all other aspects except egg size which is bigger in Tapioca than Barpat.
