NUMBER OF FEEDS AND SOME PHYSIOLOGICAL ASPECTS IN THE SILKWORM BOMBYX MORI L.

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Economic Entomology and Pesticides Department, Faculty of Agric. Cairo University.

2 Faculty of Environmental Agricultural Science, Suez Canal University, Al-Arish

Abstract

When the number of feeds was restricted from eight to one per day, Bombyx mori L. prolonged its larval duration. However, the pupal duration showed slight negative relation with the larval duration. These supplied one feed/day suffered heavy mortality. Increasing number of feeding enhanced the larval weight, the rates of assimilation, metabolism and conversion. It also produced elevated values in weight, length and diameter of coconuts. Restriction of feed number resulted in reduced fecundity.