Abstract

An Artificial Diet composed of castor leaf powder (11.5 g), parched soybean powder (1.0 g), sucrose (1.0 g), agar-agar (1.5 g), inhibitor solution (5 ml) and water (20 ml) was evaluated against eri silkworm larvae. Castor fed eri silkworms were maintained as control for comparison. Larval weight was significantly maximum in eri silkworms fed with artificial diet upto first instar which was followed by feeding of eri silkworms on artificial diet upto second instar + castor leaves from upto fifth instar and feeding of eri silkworm on artificial diet upto third instar + castor during remaining instars. Whereas, the larval mortality was minimum in eri silkworms reared on artificial diet upto first instar followed by artificial diet upto second and third instars + castor during remaining instars, whereas, they were higher in eri silkworms fed on artificial diet upto fourth and fifth instars + castor during remaining instars.

Keywords: Artificial diet, eri silkworm, larval parameters.