Lactic Acid and Pyruvic Acid Content in Diapausing Pupae of Outdoor and Total Indoor Reared Tasar Silkworm, Antheraea mylitta.D

Abstract: Antheraea mylitta Drury is a species widely distributed from West Bengal in the East to Karnataka in the South. Andhra local ecorace is a tropical tasar variety available only in the state of Andhra Pradesh. In spite of its superior commercial characters due to certain weaknesses the development of this ecorace found not keep pace with the exotic races. As a measure of preservation of this ecorace, an attempt has been made for its total indoor rearing. In this communication a comparative account of lactic acid and pyruvic acid has been reported from the pupae of outdoor and total indoor reared tasar silkworm. The biochemical estimations have revealed certain interesting findings. More pyruvic acid in the fat body of indoor reared pupae suggests a positive feedback for indoor rearing of tasar worms as pyruvic acid occupies a central position in the metabolism, linking the metabolic pathways of proteins, carbohydrates and fats