SEX RATIO AND FREQUENCY DISTRIBUTION OF COCOON WEIGHT IN WILD AND REARED VARIETY OF ANTHERAEA MYLITTA

Abstract

Antheraea mylitta is a well known sericigenous insect of India of economic importance. Unsynchronized and prolonged emergence of adult moth in the diapausing population of this insect affects the commercial egg production in grainages to a great extent. The sex ratio (F: M) was found to be 1:1.4 in both wild and semi-domesticated populations. The frequency distribution of cocoon weight
revealed 92.62% of male population were confined to the cocoon weight range of 8.1 to 12.5 g and 83.66% of female lied between 11.1 to 15.5 g in reared variety while, 78.2% male population ranged between 11.1 to 15.5 g and 87.3% of female population ranged between 15.1 to 19.0 g in wild variety. The mean cocoon weight of male was found to be 10.3 g and 13.5 g, whereas that in female was 14.1 g and 16.1 g in reared and wild variety respectively. Wild variety was found to be superior over reared variety in important cocoon characters, pupa weight and shell weight. The average shell weight per gram of pupal tissue formed was about 0.200g.