Double Cocoon Mounting Methods

Abstract

We bred a new race of silkworm, ‘J701×C701’, to improve double cocoon productivity. About 40% of larvae produced double cocoons when a V-shaped cocooning frame was used. Nevertheless, harvesting cocoons from this frame is laborious because the cocoons must be handled manually. Consequently, a rotary cocooning frame for double cocoons that is adaptable to an automatic cocoon harvesting machine has been earnestly sought. Harvesting cocoons from a rotary cocooning frame is simple and quick when using an automatic harvesting cocoon machine. We constructed cells (6 cm wide, 4.5 cm long, and 3 cm deep) to produce the rotary cocooning frame. Results show that about 60% of larvae produced double cocoons when the rotary cocooning frame was used. Double cocoon production using this rotary cocooning frame was more efficient than that using the V-shaped frame. Moreover, cocoons produced with this frame were of high quality.