This silk produced by Philosamia ricini is called eri silk. It is mostly grown in Assam in eastern parts of India.The food plants of this silkworm is castor (Ricinus communis) The alternative food plants are Heteropanax fragans, Manihot utilissima, Earica papaya, Ailanthus sp., Plumeria acutifolia. This silkworm is miltivoltine and is reared indoors. The eggs are white, hatch in ten days. The hatched larvae are mounted on castor leaves in the rearing house and are allowed to grow by periodical feeding. The worms moult four times during its larval period of 30-32 days. It is generally hardy and not susceptible to diseases. At the end of the larval period, the worms spins the cocoons. The cocoons are usually white. The cocoons of the eri silkworm cannot be reeled, as they are made up of uneven fibers. Generally, after the emergency of the moths, the cocoons are used for producing spun yarn. |
Ag. Technologies (Sericulture) |