Wing and leg amputation induced oviposition pattern of tropical tasar silk moth, Antheraea mylitta Drury (Lepidoptera: Saturniidae) in oviposition devices – Earthen cups and paper sheets

Abstract

• Scalable cellular oviposition of Antheraea mylitta on paper sheets is demonstrated. • Wing and leg cut (W – L – ) induces high oviposition in first 4 h, in turn on first day. • A maximum oviposition of 83% on first day & 92% in two days obtained on paper sheet. Antheraea mylitta Drury (Lepidoptera: Saturniidae) is a tropical semi-domesticated wild tasar silkworm reared by marginal tribal farmers of India. Due to improper egg laying frequency, oviposition is generally kept for three continuous days after amputating the gravid moth wings (W – ) in earthen cups (C). In order to systematize the oviposition frequency, wing cut with leg cut (W – L – ) was performed in ecorace Daba trivoltine (DTV) completing three life-cycles in a year. Oviposition of (C)W – L – was observed in all three grainages during the year 2020 and compared with (C)W – moths. Oviposition was also accomplished on plain paper sheets (S). It is observed that (C)W – obtained 63–67% and (C)W – L – obtained 72–80% egg laying on first day. Similarly, (S)W – and (S)W – L – obtained 68–71% and 74–83% on first day. Further, significant high oviposition was observed within first four hours in both earthen cups and on paper sheets by W – L – moths laying 49–69% and 55–65% eggs compared to W – laying 25–45% and 39–44% eggs, respectively. A total of 44–51, 47–54, 44–48 and 46–52 eggs/g moth weight was obtained in (C)W – , (C)W – L – , (S)W – and (S)W – L – , respectively in three consecutive grainage. Oviposition of W – moths in earthen cups and on paper sheets are not significantly different indicating earthen cups in contemporary tasar grainage could be replaced with paper sheets. Thus, the paper demonstrates for the first time a fast, efficient and scalable cellular oviposition of A. mylitta on paper sheets comparable to Bombyx mori .