Effect of Gamma Irradiation on Tasar Silkmoth, Antheraea mylitta.D

Antheraea mylitta.D. is a wild sericigenous and polyphagous insect which feeds on Terminalia arjuna and Terminalia tomentosa. It has an exclusive race in this region known as Andhra local. Due to certain weaknesses in acclimatization at different stages, this ecorace is showing signs of extinction. Present communication is based on indoor rearing of Andhra local and studies on morphological and physiological aspects of egg, larva, moth, pupa, cocoon and fibre quality. A comparison was made on the effect of various levels of gamma irradiation on the moth of irradiated cocoons. The effect of irradiation on moth and pupal duration was also observed. The results have shown that the moths of indoor rearing are at par with that of outdoor reared ones. Irradiation of cocoons during diapause showed a dose-dependent, significant reduction with 5 Gy (500), 7.5 Gt (750) and 10 Gy (1000 RADS), in the pupal duration and increase in the duration of the moth stage. The irradiated cocoons have also shown changes in filament structure.