Life History of Antheraea frithi Moore, (Lepidoptera ...

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Life History of Antheraea frithi Moore, (Lepidoptera: Saturniidae) on Terminalia arjuna (Roxb.) W&A Syn. in North Eastern Region of India B. C. Chutia, C. Nath, L. M. Goswami, B. Goswami, L. Gogoi & K. Neog

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, India Section B: Biological Sciences ISSN 0369-8211 Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci., India, Sect. B Biol. Sci. DOI 10.1007/s40011-014-0411-y

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Author's personal copy Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci., India, Sect. B Biol. Sci. DOI 10.1007/s40011-014-0411-y

RESEARCH ARTICLE

Life History of Antheraea frithi Moore, (Lepidoptera: Saturniidae) on Terminalia arjuna (Roxb.) W&A Syn. in North Eastern Region of India B. C. Chutia • C. Nath • L. M. Goswami B. Goswami • L. Gogoi • K. Neog



Received: 25 October 2013 / Revised: 8 July 2014 / Accepted: 26 July 2014 Ó The National Academy of Sciences, India 2014

Abstract Antheraea frithi Moore, the source of wild tasar silk, is an indigenous wild silk moth of north-east India. The detailed life history, bionomics and rearing performance of A. frithi in relation to a newly reported food plant, Terminalia arjuna (Roxb.) has been described in the present study. Life cycle of A. frithi has five larval instars. The first instar larva measures 1.98 ± 0.13 cm 9 0.198 ± 0.010 cm in length and breadth and 0.0142 ± 0.002 g in weight while the fifth instar larva measures 6.98 ± 0.18 cm 9 1.12 ± 0.13 cm in length and breadth and 4.76 ± 0.45 g in weight. Wing span of male and female is recorded as 11.4–13.5 and 13.0–14.7 cm respectively. The incubation period (6–7 days), larval duration (35–39 days), fecundity (162–176 eggs), hatching (78–81 %), effective rate of rearing (57–59 %) and cocoon yield (67–79 nos) has been recorded. The reelable cocoons with a filament length (mts) and filament denier (d) is 493–575 m and 4.6–5.3 respectively. The shell weight (g) of male and female cocoons measures as 0.19–0.39 and 0.2–0.6, respectively. The shell ratio (%) for male and female cocoons stands as 8.1–8.4 and 9.4–9.8 % respectively. Keywords Antheraea frithi  Terminalia arjuna  Life history

B. C. Chutia (&)  C. Nath  L. M. Goswami  B. Goswami  L. Gogoi Department of Zoology, Nowgong College, Nagaon 782001, Assam, India e-mail: [email protected] K. Neog Central Muga Eri Research & Training Institute, Lahdoigarh, Jorhat 785700, Assam, India

Introduction Antheraea frithi Moore, an indigenous wild silk moth, also known as ‘‘wild tasar silkmoth’’ is widely distributed in south east Asia [1–5] and abundantly found in sub-Himalayan belt of India including north-eastern states [6–15]. Currently, temperate tasar silk is produced by Antherea proylei Jolly, A. proylei Moore, A. frithi Moore and A. pernyi Guernin-Meneville (an exotic species from China) in the sub-Himalayan belt of India covering the states of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Manipur and Nagaland [16] and temperate forests of Assam [6]. Among them A. roylei Moore and A. frithi Moore are not freely found in the wild state in this region hence not commercially exploited. The larvae of A. frithi Moore are polyphagous in nature mainly feeding on Oak (Lithocarpus dealbata Hook and Thomson ex Miq) [10], Sal (Shorea robusta, Roth) [17] and Quercus accuitissima Carruth. [18]. Ibohal et al. [8] reported Oak (L. dealbata Hook and Thomson ex Miq) as the most preferred host plant. Saikia et al. [10] carried out a detailed study on biology and rearing performance of A. frithi Moore on Sal (S. robusta Roth.) under in situ outdoor and indoor captive conditions and also emphasize on its commercial characteristics. Nevertheless, no information is available on the life history and rearing performance of this sericigenous insect especially on Terminalia arjuna Roxb. from north eastern region of India. Hence a detailed study was conducted on the life history of A. frithi Moore on T. arjuna Roxb to evaluate this lesser known wild silk variety for production of wild tasar reeled yarn in this region.

Material and Methods Cocoons were collected from Regional Tasar Research Station, Imphal, Manipur and stored in the laboratory at

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room temperature (28 °C) with average humidity (77.49 %). The emerged male and female moths were allowed to copulate and lay eggs. The eggs were incubated at room temperature. After 6 days of incubation period the newly hatched larvae were released on T. arjuna. Rearing was conducted inside nylon net cover till cocooning on the same tree. The rearing was conducted during July–August/ 2013 and data pertaining to the study were recorded regularly. Five replications were conducted. The mean value and standard deviation (SD) were calculated from the computed value.

appear on body segments. Tubercles with dull white setae appear in later stages of first instar larvae. The larvae measure 1.98 ± 0.13 and 0.198 ± 0.010 cm in length and breadth respectively and 0.0142 ± 0.002 g in weight (Table 1). The first instar larval duration is 7–8 days. Second Instar Larva (Fig. 3)

Observations and Discussion

The larvae are yellowish with yellowish tubercles having dull white setae. Head is also yellowish and semi transparent which becomes grey to black in course of time. The larvae measure 2.46 ± 0.11 and 0.198 ± 0.010 cm in length and breadth respectively and 0.0142 ± 0.002 g in weight (Table 1). The second instar larval duration is 5–6 days.

Oviposition

Third Instar Larva (Fig. 4)

Average oviposition per female in A. frithi M. was recorded to be 148–176.

The larvae are light green in colour after the second moult. Head is mostly grey to black in colour. Tubercles are light orange in colour. Dorsal tubercles of the thoracic segment (3rd and 4th) turns light orange at the base and black at the tips. The anal tubercle (11th) also has a large black tip. Black setae are present in tubercles. Four small black spots are present above the head segment. The larvae measure 3.38 ± 0.19 and 0.684 ± 0.13 cm in length and breadth respectively and 0.746 ± 0.17 g in weight (Table 1). At this stage the larva lasts for 6–7 days.

Egg (Fig. 1) Eggs of A. frithi are round and dorso-ventrally flattened. Colour of the eggs is creamish yellow with a brownish band. The eggs measure 0.26 ± 0.008 and 0.24 ± 0.010 cm in length and breadth respectively and 0.0084 ± 0.0008 g in weight (Table 1). The embryonic period is 6–7 days. The A. frithi M. is bivoltine in nature in the climatic conditions of Assam. First Instar Larva (Fig. 2) Head is smooth and black to grey in colour. The colour of the larvae is brown after hatching. The larva becomes yellowish before the first moult. Some black markings

Fourth Instar Larva (Fig. 5) The fourth instar larvae are green in colour. Tubercles are orange coloured with black setae. The black tip of the anal tubercle disappears at this stage. Head is mostly grey in colour. There are two small black spots found above head. The larvae measure 4.48 ± 0.19 and 0.94 ± 0.06 cm in length and breadth respectively and 2.57 ± 0.35 g in weight (Table 1). This stage lasts 7–8 days. Fifth Instar Larva (Fig. 6) The larvae are almost similar to the 4th instar larvae. The bases of the tubercles are dark orange and the tips are purple having black setae. A shiny silvery spot appears on the right side of the body and two similar spots are found on the left. The spiracles and the lateral line are distinct at this stage. The larvae measure 6.98 ± 0.18 and 1.12 ± 0.13 cm in length and breadth respectively and 4.76 ± 0.45 g in weight (Table 1). Fifth instar larval duration is 7–8 days. Pupa and Cocoon (Fig. 7, 8)

Fig. 1 Eggs

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The pupa (Fig. 7) is red metallic in colour. The mail pupa measures 2.76 ± 0.22 cm 9 1.13 ± 0.12 cm while female

Author's personal copy Life history of Antheraea frithi Moore Table 1 Morphometric parameters of Antherea frithi Moore, feeding on Terminalia arjuna(Roxb.) W and A S. No

Stages

1

Egg

2

Larval Insters 1st 2nd

3

4

Morphometric characters (Mean ? SD)

Duration (Days)

Colour

Length (cm)

Creamish yellow with brownish band

0.26 ± 0.008

Breadth (cm)

Weight (gm)

0.24 ± 0.010

0.0084 ± 0.0008

6–7

Yellowish with black irregular markings

1.98 ± 0.130

0.198 ± 0.010

0.0142 ± 0.002

7–8

Light yellowish which becomes light green

2.46 ± 0.114

0.208 ± 0.008

0.234 ± 0.003

5–6

3rd

Light green

3.38 ± 0.192

0.684 ± 0.129

0.746 ± 0.168

6–7

4th

Green

4.48 ± 0.192

0.94 ± 0.054

2.57 ± 0.351

7–8

5th

Green

6.98 ± 0.178

1.12 ± 0.130

4.76 ± 0.445

7–8

Pupa Male

Red metallic

2.76 ± 0.22

1.13 ± 0.117

2.95 ± 0.094

46–54

Female

Red metallic

3.29 ± 0.12

1.32 ± 0.055

3.85 ± 0.52

45–53

Adult Male

Greenish yellow

3.32 ± 0.28

1.23 ± 0.08

1.71 ± 0.16

6–8

Female

Yellow

3.62 ± 0.32

1.53 ± 0.07

2.48 ± 0.13

7–8

Fig. 2 First instar larva

Fig. 4 Third instar larva

Fig. 3 Second instar larva

pupa measures 3.29 ± 0.12 cm 9 1.32 ± 0.06 cm. The weight of male pupa is 2.41 ± 0.10 g while that of female is 4.2 ± 1.04 g (Table 1). The pupa of A. frithi M. enters in diapose in the month of November and remains in dormant stage up to the month of March. Cocoons (Fig. 8) stalked and spun between leaves or partially covered with leaves. The single layered cocoon is whitish brown in colour with a short peduncle. Effective rate of rearing (ERR) of A. frithi

Fig. 5 Fourth instar larva

i.e. the survival rate was calculated as 56.5 which was calculated as number of cocoons harvested/number of worms reared X 100. Seventy five cocoons were harvested from one batch i.e. eggs laid by a single female moth (Table 2).

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Fig. 6 Fifth instar larva Fig. 10 Adult (female)

Adult (Fig. 9, 10)

Fig. 7 Pupa

Fig. 8 Cocoons

The ground colour of the male moth (Fig. 9) is greenish yellow. It has pointed apical end of the forewing. Both fore and hind wings have a complicated coloured eyespot. The ground colour of the female moth (Fig. 10) is yellow. Both fore and hind wing have a complicated coloured eyespot. Wing span of male moth is 12–13 cm while that of female is 13–14 cm (Table 1). Like other members of family Saturniidae, the wild tasar silkmoth, A. frithi M. survived only for a short duration. They copulate and die after laying eggs. The eggs hatch after 6–7 days. As they exhibit wild nature, hence outdoor rearing was carried out on T. arjuna Roxb. and moths were provided with the benefit of all the physical parameters within their natural habitat under in situ conditions. During the rearing period average temperature, humidity and rainfall were recorded as 33.84 °C, 77.49 % and 1.95 cm respectively. In the present study, fecundity was recorded as 162–176 eggs, but Saikia et al. [10] found it to be 199.48 which was slightly higher than that of the present study. Host plant plays a critical role in the determination of insect numbers and whole life strategies [19] and fecundity, growth rate, development time and survival of adults [20]. Highest egg laying was recorded during the first 2 days of oviposition, mainly during the late evenings. This is in contrast with the earlier studies conducted by Dash and Nayak [21] on Anthearea paphia Linn. and Tragg et al. [21]. on Bombyx mori Linn. Saikia et al. [10] found fifth instar larval weight and ERR as 10–12 gm and 88.25 % respectively on Shorea robusta Roth which is higher than the larvae fed on T. arjuna Roxb (4–6 g and 57 %) in the present study in the same season. This variation might be due to variation in nutrition status of the food plants.

Conclusion

Fig. 9 Adult (male)

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A. frithi M is found to be completely free from other silkworm diseases like pebrine and muscardine but a minor infestation of flacherie has been noticed which may be due

Author's personal copy Life history of Antheraea frithi Moore Table 2 Production parameters and cocoon characteristics of A. frithi M S. No

Parameters

Mean ± SD

1

Fecundity (Nos)

162 ± 14

2

Hatching (%)

77.6 ± 3.04

3

ERR (%)

56.5 ± 1.9

4

Cocoon/DFL

67 ± 12.18

5

Cocoon colour

Light grey

6

Green cocoon (Male)

Length (cm)

Cocoon characteristics

7

8 9 10

Green cocoon (Female)

Peduncle length (cm) Shell weight (gm) Shell ratio (%)

4.09 ± 0.15

Breadth (cm)

2.14 ± 0.29

Weight (cm)

3.45 ± 0.39

Length (cm)

4.96 ± 0.35

Breadth (cm) Weight (cm)

2.74 ± 0.30 4.56 ± 0.46

Male

2.8 ± 0.4

Female

3.74 ± 0.63

Male

0.29 ± 0.10

Female

0.45 ± 0.25

Male

8.32 ± 0.13

Female

9.61 ± 0.22

Yarn characteristics 11

Yarn colour

Light grey

12

Filament length (m)

534 ± 41.7

13

Denier

5 ± 0.35

to higher temperature, higher humidity and maximum moisture content of the leaves in the month of July–August. T. arjuna Roxb. is an important medicinal plant abundantly available in north eastern India and can be easily propagated for rearing of A. frithi M. along with other commercially exploited silkworm species. Due to less exploitation by the local sericulture farmers as well as lack of awareness about the species, the present rich fauna of A. frithi M. may face an extrapritation problem in future. Thus, the critical evaluation of suitable conservation and utilization strategies are urgently required for the establishment of lesser known wild silk moth, A. frithi M. as a resourceful, disease resistant and genetically stable breeding material for maintaining a flourishing sericulture industry along with other wild silk moths for novel silk production. Acknowledgments The authors thankfully acknowledge the Department of Science and Technology, Govt. of India for financial assistance through major research project sanctioned to Dr. B.C. Chutia. This manuscript has not any conflict of interest.

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