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Conserving one of the important species of oak tasar silk worm Antheraea proylei (Lepidoptera: Saturniidae) in western Himalyan region of Uttarakhand, India to sustain the livelihood of local population

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Abstract

The present study was conducted to record the complete life cycle of oak tasar silk worm Anthraea proylei in the western Himalayan region of Uttarakhand, India. During this study the duration of larval instar stages were 4.80 ± 0.41, 4.00 ± 0, 4.80 ± 0.41, 8.00 ± 0 and 11.66 ± 0.72 days for 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th larval instars, respectively. The shortest duration of the larval stage was recorded for the 2nd instar (4.00 ± 00 days), while, longest duration of the larval stage was recorded for 5th instar (11.66 ± 0.72 days). All the larval stages were completed within 42 ± 10 days. After hatching, the larvae developed, which were elongated about 4.17 ± 0.36 mm long. The larvae covered with many brownish-black hairs and start feeding at the given food plant. After feeding the total weight was recorded 0.07 ± 0.006, 0.26 ± 0.02, 1.27 ± 0.17, 4.65 ± 0.86, 13.72 ± 1.10 for 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th larval instars respectively. The total length of all instars was 1.02 ± 0.03, 2.39 ± 0.43, 6.12 ± 0.12, 7.44 ± 0.43, 10.25 ± 0.17 for 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th larval instars respectively. Larvae were reddish-brown in color. The weight and length of female pupae were 8.75 ± 0.15 gm and 4.31 ± 0.12 cm, respectively. The weight and length of male pupae were 6.41 ± 0.08 gm and 4.42 ± 0.22 cm, respectively. The weight of adult male and the female moth was reported as 4.02 ± 0.13 and 1.89 ± 0.07 gm.

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Acknowledgements

The authors are highly thankful to University Grant Commission, New Delhi for providing the BSR fellowships during Ph.D. research work and the authors have very grateful to the scientists and laboratory staff members of Regional Tasar Research Station, Bhimtal for providing necessary lab facilities during the study period.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Civil Engineering, Roorkee College of Engineering, Roorkee, Uttarakhand, India

    Pashupati Nath

  2. Department of Zoology and Environment Science, Gurukula Kangari University, Haridwar, Uttarakhand, India

    P. C. Joshi

  3. Department of Agriculture and Forestry, Roorkee College, Roorkee, Uttarakhand, India

    Induja Mishra

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  1. Pashupati Nath
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  2. P. C. Joshi
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  3. Induja Mishra
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Correspondence to Pashupati Nath.

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Nath, P., Joshi, P.C. & Mishra, I. Conserving one of the important species of oak tasar silk worm Antheraea proylei (Lepidoptera: Saturniidae) in western Himalyan region of Uttarakhand, India to sustain the livelihood of local population. Int J Trop Insect Sci 41, 2313–2318 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s42690-020-00400-8

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