Rearing technique for a wild silk worm Actias selene hubner (Lepidoptera: Saturniidae)

ABSTRACT Actias selene Hubner (Lepidoptera: Saturniidae) is wild silk worm of India. It has durable silk. Therefore, its conservation and exploitation in silk industry is integral part of sericulture. However, silk production technology of A. selene is not developed so far. Hence, in the present paper preliminary rearing technique of A. selene is given. Cocoons were formed within 45 days. Cocoon weight, shell weight, shell length, shell width and shell thickness were 7.42 g, 0.93 g, 4.2 cm, 2.2 cm and 0.18 mm respectively, while shell ratio calculated was 12.53%. The rearing success of A. selene was 25% on Terminalia tomentosa W. & A. The mated females laid 105 eggs and produced 22 offspring’s with an average sex ratio (m: f) 1: 0.75. Key words: Rearing technique, Actias selene, wild silkworm, India. REFERENCES Akai, H.: Global scenario of wild silks.Indian Silk, 37 (6 & 7): 18-20 (1998). Barlow, H.S.: An introduction to the moths of South East Asia. The Malayan Nature Society, Kuala Lampur: 305 (1982). Cotes E.C.: Silk worms of India. Museum Notes, 1(3): 157-162 (1989). Hampson G.F.: The fauna of British India, including Ceylon and Burma. Moths-II.XXXII : 609 London (1892). Islam, M.: The flora of majuli Assam. Pub. B. Singh and M. Singh, Dehradun: 161-162 (1990). Jadhav, A.D., Bhusnar, A.R., T.V. Sathe, S. R. Yankanchi and K. Kirwale: Rearing performance of Tasar silkworm Antheraea mylitta Drury (Lepidoptera :Saturniidae) on different food plants from Kolhapur district of Western Maharashtra. Biospectra, 9(1): 141-146( 2014). Jolly, M.S. A new technique of tasar silk worm rearing. Indian Silk, 11: 5-8 (1972). Kavane R.P. and T.V.: Sathe Indoor rearing of tasar silk worm Antheraea mylitta Drury. on Terminalia catappa Cooke. Biotechnological Approaches in Entomology, (Edt. T.V. Sathe) Mang Publi. New Delhi: 178-183 (2008). Kavane R.P. and T.V.: Sathe. Preliminary rearing technique for Attacus atlas (Lepidoptera: Saturniidae), A wild silk worm of India. Biolife, 2(4): 1305-1309. Kavane R.P. and T. V. Sathe : Wild silk technology. Daya Publi. House, New Delhi: 1-224 (2011). Lefory, H.M. and C. C. Ghosh: Eri silk. Mem. Dept. Agri. India Ent., 4(1): 130( 1912). Nassig, W.A. and Peigler, R.S.: The life history of Actias maenae (Saturniidae).J. Lepid. Soc., 38: 114-123 (1984). Potter, A.L.: The Chinese moon moth Actias selene. Hongkong Naturalist, 10: 167-172 (1941). Rajadurai, S. and Thangavelu, K.: Biology of Moon moth Actias selene (Hubner) (Lepidoptera :Saturniidae) prevalent in Bhandra forest, Maharashtra. Proc. IIIrd Int. Conf. on Wild Silk moth: 362-366 (1998). Saikia, B. and Handique R.: Biology of Wild silk moth Attacus atlas L. Proc. IIIrd Int. Nat. Conf. on wild silk moths: 345-347 (1998). Sathe, T.V.: Biodiversity of wild silk moths from Western Maharashtra, India.Bull. Ind. Acad. Seri., 11(1): 21-24(2007). Sathe, T.V. Ecology, epidemiology and control of Sand flies from Kolhapur region, India. Int. Nat. J. Pharma & BioSci. 5(4) (B): 1032-1045 (2014). Sathe T. V. and Chougale T. M. Hymenopterous biopesticides and there preliminary biocontrol potential from western Maharashtra including Ghats. Biolife. 2 (4): 1254-1261 (2014). Sathe T.V. and Desai A. S. Economical and distributional status of Uzi fly, Exorista sorbillans Wied. (Diptera: Tachinidae) in sericulture in India. Indian J Appl. Res. 4 (8): 10-13 (2014). Sathe T.V. and Jadhav A.D.: Sericulture and pest management. Daya Publ. House, New Delhi:1-197 (2001) Sathe T. V. and Kavane R.P.: Biology of Attacus atlas (Lepidoptera :Saturniidae), a wild silk worm of India. Indian journal of applied research, 4(10), 4-7 (2014). Sathe T. V., Jadhav A.D., Kamadi N. G. and Undale J. P. Low cost rearing technique for Mulberry silkworm (Pm x NB4D2) by using nylon and indigenous shelves. Biotechnological Approaches in Entomology, 6, 212-226 (2008). Thangavellu, K., Bajpayi, C.M. and H.R.: Bania Indoor rearing for Tasar silkworm diet. Indian silk, 30(6): 19-20 (1991). Waldbauer G. P. the consumption and utilization of food by insect. Advances in Insect Physiology, 5: 229-288 (1968). Watson, J.H. : The wild silk moths of the world with special reference to the Saturniidae. Manchester School of Technology, Manchester, England:8 (1911)