The photoperiodic conditions which promote the growth of newly hatched larvae in an artificial-dietrearing are investigated, and the following results obtained;
1) The newly hatched larvae feeding in light begin to discharge earlier than those feeding in dark do. In the early stage of feeding the curve of discharge number plotted against time elapsed has a higher peak and a shorter period in the case of feeding in light.
2) Feeding in light gives more discharges and heavier body weights of larvae irrespective of the composition of diet.
3) The spectral range of light effective to their growth lies about from 550 mμ to 590 mμ.
4) The photoperiodic conditions during incubation have some effects upon the growth of newly hatched larvae, though not so seriously as those during feeding do.
5) Feeding in light promotes the growth in a large majority of silkworm races, but in a very few ones it has no distinguishable effect on the growth, or oc-casionally hinders the growth.
6) More than 18 hours are necessary in order for feeding in light to have an effect on the growth of silkworms.
In conclusion we have observed that in a majority of silkworm races feeding in light accelates their growth. On the basis of this observation we insist that the hatching of silkworms by illumination is not accidental, or rather the illumination plays an important role in facilitating the growth of silkworms.
View full abstract