Effect of Feeding and Starvation Intervals on the Performance and Productivity of the Silkworm Bombyx mori L.

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Sericulture Dept., Plant Protection Res. Institute ARC, Alex., Egypt.

Abstract

Larvae of Bombyx mori L. were significantly affected by the number of daily meals offered to them. Larvae fed four or five times / day gave the highest records on the larval duration, weights of larvae, pupa, length and weight of female reproductive system. The lower weights were calculated from larvae fed by two meals / day. Insignificant differences were recorded on their pupal stage duration, length of female reproductive system, number of deposited eggs and hatchability. While, starvation gave a high significant effect on the decreased weights of larvae, pupa, silk gland, fresh cocoons and cocoon shell. Number of deposited eggs and hatchability didn’t give any significant differences between number of meals offered to the tested larvae and starvation intervals.