抄録
Oak tasar silk is advanced variety of tasar silk produced by the silkworm Antheraea proylei J. This species is found abundantly on Sub-Himalayan tract of North Eastern India and mainly feeds on oak. In the present study,
A. proylei was reared on Terminalia catappa L. under laboratory conditions, Kolhapur Maharashtra. The mated female laid eggs in groups and the total number eggs laid ranged from 120 to 200. Eggs oval in shape and
brown in colour. The incubation period varies with the season i.e. 9.3±0.67, 9.8±0.42 and 8.8±0.78 days in rainy, winter and summer season respectively. Variation in larval periods was observed in three seasons. The total larval period under laboratory conditions in rainy, winter and summer season was 32.2±1.9, 38.3±1.7 and 32.1±1.7 respectively. Pupation occurs in white lustrous cocoon. Pupal period was 23.9±0.87 days in rainy season, 29.8±2.09 in winter season and 24.4±0.51 in summer season. The analysis of variance showed significance difference in rearing parameter of the silkworm in different seasons. The seasonal rearing efficiency showed an increasing trend from summer to winter. The cocoon characters were better in winter season as compared to rainy and summer season. The cocoon weight, shell weight, pupal weight and shell ration in winter season were 6.14 g, 0.69 g, 5.45 g and 11.12 % respectively.
