2. INTODUCTION
• Sericulture is the rearing of silkworms to produce silk
• Derived from Greek word ‘sericos’ means silk
• It is an agro-industry as well as a cottage industry
• India is the second largest silk producing country in the world
after China
• Silk is the fibrous protein also produced by other animals like
spiders, lepidopteran
• More than 400-500 species are known to produce silk
• Silk used in textile industry.
3. History
• According to Chinese evidences, the discovery of silk production starts
from 2,700 B.C.
• Ancient Chinese tale state that silk discovered accidently by that times
great prince Hong Ti’s wife Si Ling Chi
• After that she raise the silkworms for the silk & use to make garments
• For respect to her they give her special title ‘Seine-Than’ or “The
Goddess of Silk Worms”
• After 300 A.D. sericulture travelled Westward & cultivation of the
silkworm was established in India
• According to tradition, the egg of insect & the seed of mulbeery tree
were carried to India concealed in the headdress of a Chinese princess
4. Types of Silk Moth
• Silkworm is the larva of silk moth
• Thy are divided into mulberry silkworm & non-mulberry
silkworm
• Non-mulberry silkworms are 3 types
1. Eri silkworms ( Philosamia cynthia )
2. Muga silkworm ( Antheraea assamensis )
3. Tasar silkworm ( Antheraea mylitta )
5. 1. Mulberry silkworm ( Bombyx mori )
Classification of muberry silkworm
Phylum- Arthropoda
Class- Insecta
Order- Lepidoptera
Family- Bombycidae
Genus- Bombyx
Species- mori
• Silkworms which feed on mulberry leaves called mulberry silkworm
• Also classified according to the distribution, no. of generation produced in a
year & no. of moults produced during their larval life
6. • Based on distribution Divided into 4 races
• Chinese , Japanese , European , Indian silkworms
• Based on no. of moults in life cycle , Indian silkworms is grouped into 3
types
• Tri-moulters , tetra-moulters , penta-moulters
• Based on no. of brood produced in a year, classified into 3 races
• Univoltines , bivoltines , multivoltines
• Voltinism “ a term indicate the number of broods or generation of an
organism in a year”
1. Univoltines- They are the silkworms that produce only one generation per
yer example: European races
2. Bivoltines – Produced two generation per year ex: Chinese races
3. Multivoltines – Produced more than 3 generations per year ex: Indian
race
Voltinism is also controlled by environmental factors like light & temp.
7. 2. Non-Mulberry silkworms
• Do not feed on mulberry leaves , but feed on
castor leaves
• 3 types
1. Eri Moth –
Classification
Phylum- Arthropoda
Class- Insecta
Order- Lepidoptera
Family- Saturniidae
Genus- Philosamia
Species- cynthia
Eri moth
8. Eri Silkworm
• Used to produced silk fabric
• Not domesticated like mulberry silkworm
• Moth has very large wings of 113-125 mm
• Found in north east India & some parts of
China , Japan . Imported to Thailand in
1974
• Eri derived from Assamese word “era”
means castor
• Eri silk also known as endi or errandi in
india
• Eri silk is red in colour
• Fibre is not continous
• Proper reeling is not possible
9. Muga moth
2. Muga Moth
Classification
Phylum- Arthropoda
Class- Insecta
Order- Lepidoptera
Family- Saturniidae
Genus- Antheraea
Species- assamensis
• Also called Assam silkmoth
• Found in Assam in North east India where
99 % of its production occurs
• The female has large abdomen & slender
antennae compared to male
10. Muga silkworm
• Was reserved for royal families in
Assam for 600 years.
• The larvae are vibrantly coloured
• One of variety of tussar silk
• Known for it’s extreme durability
• Silk is yellowish-golden in colour with a
shimmering , glossy txture
• This silkworm feeds on som & soalu
leaves
• Used in making products like saris,
chadors, mekhalas
11. Tasar Moth
3. Tasar Moth
Classification
Phylum- Arthropoda
Class- Insecta
Order- Lepidoptera
Family- Saturniidae
Genus- Antheraea
Species- mylitta
• Also known as vanya silkworm
• Produce tussar silk , a kind of wild
silk
12. Tasar silkworm
• The genus Antheraea found in
China, Japan, India
• This species is variable , with at least
44 identified ecoraces
• Feeds on mainly on Terminalia & on
Shorea robusta
• Also feeds on other different plants
like Indian jujube, alexwood , jambul
, kumbi , teak , etc
• Silks colour & durability is depends on
species
• The worms are univoltine or bivoltine
• Cocoons may be easily reeled
