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1Central Muga Eri Research and Training Institute, Central Silk Board : Ministry of Textiles : Govt. of India Lahdoigarh : Jorhat – 785 700: Assam, India.
The 5th instar caterpillars of muga silkworm Antheraea assamensis Helfer (Lepidoptera: Saturniidae) were treated with 0.1 ppm of methoprene (JHA) to evaluate its effects under field conditions. Treated larvae produced more cocoons significantly during both Aherua and Katia seasons (79.68 % and 97.69 %, resp.), compared to the control larvae (68.37 % and 84.65 %, resp.). Significant enhancement of male and female cocoon weights (5.41 g and 6.62 g, resp.), pupal weights (4.93 g and 6.18 g, resp.), and shell weights (0.43 g and 0.52 g, resp.) were observed after methoprene treatment. The valid female moths were higher in treated (48.01 % during Katia and 44.19 % during Aherua), compared to the control (39.65 % during Katia and 36.58 % during Aherua). Methoprene significantly enhanced the female fecundity (184 nos.), compared to 135 nos. in control.