PHYSICAL AND COMMERCIAL CHARACTERISITCS OF CERTAIN INDIAN WILD SILKMOTH ANTHERAEA MYLITTA DRURY (SATURNIIDAE : LEPIDOPTERA)

The present work embodies mainly characterization of the cocoon quality in tasar ecoraces belonging to Modal, Raily, Daba Chaibasa (Bihar), Daba Bihar, Andhra Local, Resham, Daba M.P., Daba collected from Warangal region, Sarihan and Ampatia ecoraces. The colouration, shape of the cocoon, presence of cocoon grains were visually studied and concluded that there is generality among these characteristics in the ecoraces. In a majority the cocoons are greyinsh or yellow on the upper surface and light yellow or brown in the inner surface. Apart from visual observations, the other commercial characteristics of cocoons such as length, shell weight, volume, reelability, melting point of filament, hardening material, moisture and ash contents were measured in about ten ecoraces, and discussed them comparatively by giving gradation. Each grade was awarded certain points. The ecoraces in a comparative study were placed at different grades, accordingly the points were counted, each ecorace thus had certain number of points scored between 8001000, 600-800, 400-600 and less than four hundred. Thus the ecoraces of the first order scored highest points include Modal D Daba Chaibasa (Bihar) > Raily which are considered above average. The ecoraces which had scored above 600 and less than 800 points includes Andhra Local, Resham, Daba M.P. and Daba from Warangal which are considered to be average. The ecoraces Daba Bihar and Sarihan has scored less than 600 and comes under below average. Ampatia was the lowest in the score with below 300 in cocoon characters and is considered to be insignificant.