PLANNING OF WINTER ENERGY BUDGET FOR DIFFERENT Activities BY LARVA OF INDIAN TROPICAL TASAR SILKMOTH Antheraea mylitta DRURY FEEDING ON TERMINALIA arjuna

AMULYA KUMAR DASH

Volume : V, Issue : I, January - 2016

PLANNING OF WINTER ENERGY BUDGET FOR DIFFERENT Activities BY LARVA OF INDIAN TROPICAL TASAR SILKMOTH Antheraea mylitta DRURY FEEDING ON TERMINALIA arjuna

Amulya Kumar Dash

Abstract :

Energy budget of larva of Antheraea mylitta Drury living in Terminalia arjuna W. & A. host plant was prepared in winter season. During fifth instar the rate of food energy consumption, absorption, body growth, silk gland growth and respiration increased suddenly in comparison to other instars. The amount of consumption, absorption, body tissue growth and silk gland growth during fifth instar only was about 81%, 82%, 83%, 97% respectively of the total amount used in the entire larval period. At fifth instar the female larva showed significantly higher overall efficiencies than male larva. There was a gradual increase in amount of energy stored per mg dry body weight from first to fifth instar. Female larva showed higher value than male larva. The absorption and growth efficiency was lowest in 2nd instar. So it is the most vulnerable instar needing more care during re�. Highest all–round efficiency was observed in case of fifth instar larva. So optimum care during feeding and re� should be given to fifth instar larva in order to maximize silk productivity