cu Tune 26 poole? carats Univoltine af lite | Ore ge | Only hibemating eggs ated with pore | | Sensative to the envi- | ronmental factors on with kelatie jiranment jamal period | Very long uality of sik | Commercially very su- Comparative Account of Different Strains of Mulberr 105 y Silk Moth Multivoltine as) Mare than to | Both hibernating and | Only nan hiber at" | non-hibemating, Resistant to high tem perature and hurnid- ity Very short Tolerant to the envi- ronmental factors Relatively short Commercially supe- | Commercially the sill . perior rior is of very poor quality Example European race Chinese and Japanese | Indian race race ——_ pjvoltine races in subtropical and temper- eas is mostly seasonal, restricted from ‘0 early autumn. and spring t 2.41 Silk and Silk Gland and Uses of Silk A. Silk Definition : Silk is a protein fibre consist- ing of outer sericin and inner fibroin from the secretion of the silk of mature Spinneret Filippis gland Anterior part Middle part Posterior part Fig 2.4: Sik gland of sik moth larva, ee (6th instar) larvae of silk worm and that secre- tion initially becomes liquid and is transformed to a hard thread in contact with air. — Physical nature of silk fibre : > (i) Nature: It is a smooth, soft, light and elastic fibre. (ii) Diameter : 15-35 mp. . (iil) pH 2245.2 _ (iv) Specific gravity : 14-142 The colour of silk fibre de- pends upon the colour of the haemolymph _of silk_moth larva which is governed by the pigments present-in mulberry leaves which are devoured by them. Different pigments are seen in the silk fibres viz., xanthophyll (golden-yellow fibre), caro~ tene (yellow fibre), bom- bycitin (green fibre) etc. (v) Colour : Chemical nature of silk fibre: / Ai) Silk fibre consists of central fibroin (CoHyeNiyOx2) and peripheral sericin (CsoHgoN oO r6)-106 isag (iii) In silk fibre fibroin and s in the ratio of 80 ; 20. (iv) ‘The silk fibre used in weaving and in pcoons has a little bit of difference in their contents. The fibres present in the cocoon contain glued substance which is dissolved in hot water during fibre extraction from cocoon. (v) Silk fibre contains 17 types of amino acids and the chief amino acids are glycine, serine, alanine, valine, aspar- tic acid ete, In mulberry silk glycine content is higher than alanine while in non mulberry silk alanine content is higher than that of glycine. (vi) Fibroin protein contains two polypep- tide chains where ones heavy and other is light. These two chains are connected together with disulphide bonds. B, Silk gland Definition : Silk gland is a modified sali- vary gland of mature silk moth larva (5th instar) which secretes a liquid and when comes in contact with air it forms the silk thread. latinous p n remain Location ; Silk glands are paired glands and these are located between the 4th to 8th abdominal segments on the ventral side of the alimentary canal of silk moth larva. Structure : Each gland is about five times longer than the length of larva. The gland is divided into anterior, middle and posterior parts. (i) Posterior part : The posterior part of (ili) Anterior part : Two anterior pay the silk glands unite to end jn 4°! spinnaret near the mouth, A pai ¢ Lyonet’s or De Fillippis glands ig cated near the opening. A Viscous fy is secreted by these glands and , 4 haps the viscous secretion gives lush to the silk fibre, C. Use of Silk 1, Remarkable contribution of silk fiby, is the production of female costume ‘Silk Saree’. It is also used in the manufacture of ‘Dhoti’, bush shirts et¢ Silk fibres are mixed up With the syn. thetic fibres and prepare the cloth jikg tery silk, 2. The silk is also used in handkerchief, scarves, stoles, mufflers, shawls, ties etc. 3. Silk fibres are essential in the prepara. tion of tyres particularly for racing ang costly cars. 4, Silk fibres are used in the preparation of sieves for flour mills. 5. Silk fibres are also used in some com. ponents of the parachute; though re. cently is replaced by synthetic fibres, 6. It is used in the preparation of type writter ribbons. 7. Silk is used as insulating coil in tel- ephone wires and wireless receivers, 8, Silk threads are also used in surgical purposes. 2.12 Life-cycle of Mulberry Silk Worm the gland is long, narrow and coiled. Thig portion secretes\fibroin protein The life cycle of silk worm passes four whigh forms the inner core of the silk _stages—eggs, larva, pupa and adult, The fibre. The fibroin comes to the middle duration of life cycle varies from 6 to 8 weeks part where maturation takes place. depending upon the race type and climatic (ii) Middle part: This portion is S-shaped, _ conditions. broader and is known as reservoir. It secretes four types of sericin (Serici A. Egg I, Il, III & IV) which envelop the fi- (i) The eggs are laid by a gravid female broin stored there. silk worm after copulation with a male. , 3A APPL D % a y: cary Sik er Wt fi re Ae ‘2.ar(e): Automatic Sik Reeling Machine. 2.17 Diseases and Pests of Silk A. Diseases of silk worm Worm silk moth larvae suffer from difere ' diseases caused by viral, bacterial, fungalan The mulberry silk worm is susceptible to sev- oon eral diseases and pest. The diseases are caused’ Provezoan Pa gens. by viral, bacterial, fungal and protozoan pathogens. Fig Diseases of Silk Worm Bacteria Fungus Protozoa Virus 7 arcniel tea © White muscardine _ * Pebrine dise* + Cytoplasmic ‘ren muscardine polyhedrosis + Bacterial flacherie + Septicemia . + Sotto disease * Aspergillosis * Court disease gsCH. 2. SERICULTURE See nee ae enre aneenEnE 131 ‘Table 2.24 : Different Diseases of Silk Moth Worm | Name of the diseases Viral 1, Grasserie or Nucleus polyhedrosis 2. Cytoplasmic Causative agent Borelina virus Symptoms Control measure Loss of appetite, skin becoming loose and slimy white. Skin rupture exudes milky white fluid; Body is yellow and faeces are white. Hygenic rearing, proper ventilation, sterilization of rearing room with 2% formal- in, Oral administra- tion of Nalidixie acid and amino butyric acid along with food. Smithia RNA virus Loss of appetite, lag Rearing room should polyhedrosis in | development, | be disinfected by us- shrinkage of the| ing 2% formalin, At body; Body becomes | fected larvae should yellowish and faeces | be errdicated. | is white. | | Bacteria 3, Bacterial flacherie 4, Septicernia lifferen agaland 5, Sotto disease 6, Court disease oe dise* Streptococcus sp Loss of appetite, re- tardation of growth, shrinkage of body, diarthoea and vom- iting, Maintenance of uni- form optimum tem- perature and humid- ity in rearing room. Removal of infected larvae. Disinfection of rearing room with 2% formalin. Staphylococcus sp Softening of the body, change in body col- our to brown, loss of clasping power of prolegs etc. Removal of affected larvae and mainte- nance of proper envi- ronment of rearing room. Bacillus thuringiensis Lack of appetite, sluggishness, shrink- age of skin and lib- eration of a deep brown body fluid. Disinjection of rear- ing room with 2% formalin, removal of dead and infected lar vac. Serratia marcescans Larvae are flaccid. Disinfection of rear- ing room with 2% formalin, isolation of infected larvae._ CULTURE, ee ‘e ble 2.24 (Contd, : Di =a = ontd,) : Different Diseases of Silk Moth Worm ene of por , white muscardine f « plack muscardine = the diseases -——_—— Causative agent Beauveria bassiana Symptoms Loss of appetite, inactiveness, the body becomes stiff, covered with white powdery material. 133 Control measure Rearing room and rearing appliances should be disinfected with 2% formalin. Application Dithane- M-45 —Kaoline mix- ture to the larval body. Metarrhizium anisopliae Frequent vomiting, shrinking skin and body becomes brown. Rearing room and rearing appliances should be disinfected with 2% formalin. Application Dithane- M-45 —Kaoline mix- ture to the larval body. Brown muscardine | Aspergillus laous Ist and 2nd instar larvae are affected more. Non feeding habit, vomiting and dead larvae become brown in colour. Rearing room and rearing appliances should be disinfected with 2% formalin. Application Dithane- M-45 —Kaoline mix- ture to the larval body. Protozoa Pebrine disease Nosema bombycis Eggs, larvae and pu- pae are infected by the pathogen. i Infected eggs lacking adhe- sive gum and are easily de- tached from rearing board. ii. Larvae become sluggish and dull. Infected pupal body is woollen and black in col- iii. our, i, Properdisinfection of rearing room and rearing appli- ances with 2% for- malin ii, Infected organisms should be re- moved.efi CULTURE Pathogens, ges of silk moth : Adult moths are al al ran 30 infected by both fungal and protozoan % ge unhMua* 5 pise™ Table 2.25 : Di : Different Diseases of Silk Moth Causative agent - cof the dasa f - Sym Perillo ‘Aspergillus aus ya 'ymptoms Control measure o Guns) oars ace “The grainage are tobe s on their body | kept at constant tem- and their scales fail a Mating ability and the fecundi aes perature of 25°C. If infection occurs the entire lot should be discarded. - pine Protoren) | Nosema tomy Rearing of disease free layings prepared in grainages after ex- amination should be allowed. Infected adult moth shows deformed an- tennae-and wings. Black spots are seen ‘on the abdomen. c pests of silk worm od number of animals can be men- ‘hich are linked with the darnage and Vion of silk worm as well as silk moth. tt them uzifly is marked first as its § evelop within the body of silk worm. wzifly) is designated as pest as it is th the considerable loss in cocoon AB — Am farvae the fly ( ~ jinked wit crop: Pests of silk moth and worms ‘Major pest Minor pests Uzifly srmestid Mite — Oth animals beetle (ant, lizard, rat and birds) Major pest : Uzifly : It is considered as @ 3. It ‘jor pest in silk moths and silk worm lamages the cocoon crop: (a) Scientific name + Tricholyga bombycis. (b) Damaging nature : (j) Ik is distributed in Bangladesh, India, China, Thailand and Vietnam. Life-cycle of Uzifly Uaifly is blackish brown in colour. Male and female flies are 12 mm and 10 mm in Tength respectively. Head i triangular. The first segment of abdomen is black and other segments are brownish yellow. Male Ay lives 10-18 days. Female fly lays eggs over silk worm larval body. Eggs are hatched tart to consume into maggot. Then they s! the body of the silk worm. Maggots ar converted to pupa in the silk worm’s body. Larval duration is 6-8 days. The maggots are transformed to pupae. They may Te main within the cocoon of silk worm. Uzi pupal duration is 10-14 days. After the com- pletion of pupae phase ‘Uzi adult comes Fut piercing the cocoon of sill worm: (i) The eggs of uazifly are seen {> be tached to the surface of the body of silk worm. ‘after hatching the maggot penel=a’e the body of silk worm and within worm’s body maggots enlarge. The winface of the larva shows black spots136 at the place of entry of the uzi maggot. The spots are smaller and are different from the black spots of pebrine. The infected larva loses weight and stops feeding. Uzifly infected larva becomes immunologically weak and susceptible to bacterial and viral infection. (iv) The fly maggots may be seen crawling ‘on the floor of the rearing room, on the chandraki and in the cocoon storage room of grainages. (v) Uzifly emerging from pupal phase comes out by piercing the silk moth cocoons. Thus, the loss of silk moth is counted to about 10-30%. Fig 2.32: Life-cycle of Uzifly—(a) Adult, (b) Eggs, (c) Larva and (a) Pupa. Control measures : (i) Physical control : A nylon net of fine mesh called urinet should be spread over the windows of rearing room. Trapping arrangement for Uzifly should be made. Destruction of Uzi- eggs and Uzi-maggots should be done. (ii) Chemical control : Spray application of 3% Phenol or 1% Benzoic acid over worm gives effective result. Powder application of Uzicide or Vijeta over the worms may also be done. ee 7 | APPLIED 2004, = ay (ii) Biological control : The followin hymenopteran parasites 11% Brachymirea lugubris, Dithiny, himalayanus, Nesolynx thymus etc rep” duce on Uzifly maggots and pup,” Mass culture and release of these pare sites appear as effective biological cq. trol measure. Minor pests : The animals which cay, relatively less harm to the silk worms ay, called minor pests of silk worms. These jn, clude dermestid beetle, mite and other an mals. 1, Dermestid beetle : Different bee, species like Dermestes valpinys Dermestes conr appear as pest on si worms. * Damage : The larvae and adult fee on freshly spun, stored and stifles cocoon, pierce them and make them unreelable. * Control : Cleaning of rearing room and store room and rejected and per. ished cocoons should be destroyed. Fumigation of cocoon with methyl bro. mide 0.5 kg/m? fora day may be made, Straw Mite : The mite species, Pedicolus ventricosus, The mite is an ectoparasite of adult and pupa of silk moth. * Damage : Silk worm larvae affected by mite lose appetite, become inactive, vomits green fluid and excretes black fluid, * Control : Rice, wheat and straw should not be stored near by rearing room. Application of acaricide to the rearing room is recommended. x » . Other animals ; (a) Ants : Ants attack silk worms in the trays, the spinning larvae and cocoons on the mountages. (b) Nematode : The nematode species, Hexamermis microamphides attack silk worm, particularly the yours larvae. It penetrates into the body and kill the worms.ge rtouLtTune a aa se — 137 We y .) Lizards : worms. Rats : Rats devour the cocoons of silk moth. izards destory the si Nk (v) Use in pharmaceutical industry : In China, the pharmaceutical and perfure- ery compounds are produced from silk @ worm litter. From the chlorophyll ex- Birds : If larvae are kept i ; co) BY, birds devour nae in expo- creted by silk worm a medjcine, : ; ‘ganxuebao’ has been developed which trol is used in the treatment of hepatitis and leukemia Ant infestation can be controlled by ( {ging antwell with water at the base C. Byproducts of grainage operation elf stands. ; I (i) Use of pierced cocoon : From pierced ontrol the attack of Ii ae fe the windows of pes cocoons the silk fibres obtained are is tbe covered with wire used in producing fabrics like gent’s sho neh, chadar, lady's scarves, curtains, table ‘i control the rat-attack, trap and cloth ete. . : poison Ce beused inthe rear (ii) Use of waste moth : The dead and ing room: discarded moths and the discarded eggs are dumped in pits and allowed 218 pyproducts of Sericulture to form compost. Byproducts Byproducts Byproducts Byproducts of ee. iain’ palecotly «ee ge op reeling ‘A. Byproducts of moriculture (iii) Pupal waste : The pupal wastes can be used as poultry birds. The pupal oil is The usefulness of each part of mulberry used for burning lamps as well for slant has been discussed in this chapter. preparing home made soaps. , Byproducts of rearing D. Byproducts of reeling In course of reeling of cocoons, cooking (i) Use as compost : The excess mulberry wastes, reeling wastes and re-reeling wastes leaves, silk worm litter, dead bodies of larvae all are collectively used as com- are accumulated. Pose ; (i) Cooking wastes : In the process of (ii) Use as animal feed : The rejected and cooking the outer floss layer of the dead larvae are used as the foods of cocoons get entangled and become: untwisted and these are treated as cooking wastes. Reeling wastes : Before reeling cocoons poultry birds. (iii) Use as suturing material : Silk glands from dead worms can be used for (ii) surgical suturing. The silk glands are are tested whether these are reelable treated with acetic acid and then fila- or not. If some found defective these ments are prepared from them to use are rejected. Such cocoons are called in the said purpose. reeling wastes.