REFRIGERATION OF VIRGIN FEMALE MOTHS OF SILKWORM, BOMBYX MORI LINN. (LEPIDOPTERA : BOMBYCIDAE) AND ITS IMPACT ON FECUNDITY, VIABILITY AND HATCHABILITY
G.P. SINGH *
CENTRAL SERICULTURAL RESEARCH AND TRAINING INSTITUTE,MYSORE-570008, INDIA.
V.B. MATHUR *
CENTRAL SERICULTURAL RESEARCH AND TRAINING INSTITUTE,MYSORE-570008, INDIA.
VINEET KUMAR *
CENTRAL SERICULTURAL RESEARCH AND TRAINING INSTITUTE,MYSORE-570008, INDIA.
C.K. KAMBLE *
CENTRAL SERICULTURAL RESEARCH AND TRAINING INSTITUTE,MYSORE-570008, INDIA.
R.K. DATTA *
CENTRAL SERICULTURAL RESEARCH AND TRAINING INSTITUTE,MYSORE-570008, INDIA.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
The present investigation deals with the impact of refrigeration (5°C) on the virgin female moths of silkworm, Bombyx mori L., bivoltine races NB4D2 and NB18 (preparing NB4D2x CC1 and NB 18 x KA combinations). Refrigeration beyond 5 days affected all three parameters studied in winter season, but not during summer and rainy seasons. The fecundity was observed 574,605 and 413 eggs while the hatching percentage was recorded 95.86%,95.04% and 85.07% in summer, rainy and winter seasons respectively.