Techniques of Rearing Silkworm


Rearing of Eri Silkworm

Rearing room: Rearing should be conducted in well ventilated and fly proof rearing room with 4ft. all around verandah.

Disinfection

• Wash the rearing room and appliances with 0.05% bleaching powder solution before rearing.
• Keep the appliances inside the rearing room and seal the cracks on the walls of the room.
• Fumigate with 5% formaldehyde solution under high humid condition.
• Open the room after 24 hours.
• Disinfect the rearing house at least 3 days before and soon after the rearing.

Races: Borduar white, Genang local, Nongpoh pale cream, Kokrajhar red
Season: Rearing can be conducted throughout the year except in dry/hot weather.
Egg incubation: Incubate the dfls at 24-26 0C and 80-90% relative humidity.

Brushing

• Wash hands with 2% formalin solution and then with water.
• Brush newly hatched worms on tender leaves during morning hours.
• Rear maximum 300 nos. of 5th instar worms per 3 ft. x 3 ft. diameter tray.

Feeding

• Feed 1st instar worms on tender, 3rd and 4th instar on semi-matured and 5th instar on matured leaves.
• Feed the worms 5 times a day with castor or kesseru leaves.

Bed cleaning: Resort to bed cleaning daily.

Ripe worm collection

• Ripe worms become yellowish white and start roaming for selection of site for cocoon formation.
• While picking up the matured worms and rubbing in between fingers, a sound of hollowness is produced. Such worms are collected and put to cocooning mountages (Chandrakaies).

Source:
1. Package of practices of Muga, Eri and Mulberry Sericulture for North Eastern region of India, 2005, Central Muga     Eri Research & Training Institute, Lahdoigarh, Jorhat, Assam.
2. Directory of Sericulture Technology 2008, Karnataka State Sericulture Research and Development Institute,     Bangalore- 560 062.