An attempt for Indoor rearing of tasar silkworm Antheraea mylitta Drury on Terminalia catappa in the natural atmospheric conditions of Mysuru

The non mulberry silkworm’s tasar, eri and muga are grown in hilly forest regions of north eastern part of India where climatic conditions are favourable and they feed on various wild food plants and many of them grown in plane lands for ornamental purpose. An attempt made to grow tasar silkworm Antheraea mylitta in the natural atmospheric conditions of Mysuru during the rainy season (June-September) by using the secondary food plant Terminalia catappa, resulted in the larval life span of 30 days on an average and the effective rate of rearing of 27%. The results were proved that the survivability ratio and the quantity and quality of the cocoons produced were found to be affected that may due to the new environmental conditions and secondary food plant provide