Abstract
Cricula trifenestrata Helfer is a wild golden silk producing moth and grows in natural conditions in the eastern and north-eastern parts of India. It is also reported as a pest of different host plants in other parts of
the country. The present report highlights the life cycle in new food plants i.e. Indian olive, som, soalu, black berry, mango, cashew and dighloti. The behavior of egg, newly hatched worm, different instars, cocoon formation, post cocoon parameters and other related attributes were recorded on different host plants. The mean performance of rearing, four crops in a year indicates that single cocoon weight varied from 1.28–2.37 g, single shell weight, 0.103–0.127 g and silk ratio, 5.370–8.196%, respectively. The post cocoon parameters indicate that the cocoon is not reelable but spinning is possible like other cultivated silkworms. Even ghicha thread can be prepared for rough dress materials. The insect is hardy in nature and can survive in adverse climatic conditions superseding the cultivated silkworms. This insect is polyphagous and some new food plants have been reported for the first time from this part of the country. The conservation and utilization of Cricula have been highlighted in this paper.
