Evaluating the Influence of Diafenthiuron 50% WP on Economic Traits of Silkworm, Bombyx mori L

Abstract

An experiment was conducted to evaluate the impact of the dual-acting molecule Diafenthiuron 50% WP, with a specific focus on its compatibility with cocoon traits in silkworms. In present investigation, mulberry leaves were sprayed with Diafenthiuron 50% WP at a concentration of 1 g/L and subsequently fed to silkworms starting from the 3rd instar onwards, after 15 and 20 days of post-spray. The results showed that the batch of larvae fed with mulberry leaves harvested at 20 days after spraying exhibited significantly better cocoon characteristics. These included a higher percentage of good cocoons (98.12 %), increased cocoon weight (1.57g) and shell weight (0.321g), improved cocoon shell ratio (19.98 %), longer filament length (1031.07 m), higher filament weight (0.300 g), optimal denier (2.56) and fewer defective cocoons (1.87 %). These findings suggest that the toxicity of Diafenthiuron 50 % WP decreases over time with reduced adverse effects observed at 20 days post-application compared to 15 days after spray.