Abstract
An artificial diet for a hybrid strain between Samia ricini and S. cynthia pryeri was prepared using fresh Ailanthus altissima leaf paste with other common ingredients and we compared the addition of either agar or psyllium as gelling agents. Addition of psyllium prolonged the rearing duration with extended larval period at each larval instar. In addition, cocoon weight and cocoon layer weight were lighter. In contrast, when reared on agar based diet from the 1st to 4th instar and transferred to psyllium based diet for the 5th instar, there was no significant difference in the duration of the 5th instar compared to those reared on agar based diets throughout, resulting in similar or even higher cocoon and cocoon layer weights. This suggests that rearing on the agar based diet during the 1st to 4th instar and the psyllium based diet during the 5th instar is recommended. Furthermore, fresh camphor leaves (Cinnamomum camphora) were found to be inferior to artificial diets as an alternative food during the winter.