A mixture of red kidney beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) and bee bread of honey bees (Wallacetrigona incise) as artificial feed for silkworm (Bombyx mori L.)

Abstract

The supply of silk thread in Indonesia is only able to meet 5% of the national demand, and 95% must import it. Success in silk thread production comes from natural silk cultivation activities, namely mulberry cultivation. Meanwhile, the productivity of mulberry leaves in Indonesia is very low. This study aims to determine the feeding ability, growth of silkworm resistance, the effect of cocoon productivity pro4duced by silkworms when fed artificial feed. This research was conducted at the Forest Protection and Entomology Laboratory, Hasanuddin University. Artificial feed formulation in the form of a mixture of red kidney beans and bee bread with the comparison of mulberry leaves, red kidney beans, and bee bread were P1 (33:24:25), P2 (45:24:15); P3 (mulberry leaves and red kidney beans 40:44), P4 (mulberry leaves and bee bread 40:44), and P5 (natural feed of fresh mulberry leaves as control). Treatments P1, P2, P3, and P4 were added agar, vitamin C, sugar, and 100 ml of distilled water. The results of this study indicate that the percentage of artificial feed can be consumed 3 g/larva/day. Parameters of 5th instar larval survival, growth index, and cocoon quality in all feed compositions showed no significant differences.