Predisposing Factors Determining the Rearing Performance of Muga Silkworm (Antheraea assamensis Helfer): A Review

Abstract

Muga silkworm (Antheraea assamensis Helfer) is endemic to North-Eastern India, and colour designates it as golden silk. From time immemorial, many ethnic and tribal groups have produced muga silk. Muga silk has a special status due to its natural golden-yellow colour.  Semi-domesticated muga silkworm (Antheraea assamensis Helfer) is multivoltine in nature and commercial rearing is conducted during the spring (Jethua) and autumn (Kotia) seasons. The muga silkworm is a mono race with little genetic variation among populations, rearing is completely in an open environment and is subject to various diseases, pests and predators. Due to unpredictable weather conditions, natural calamities along with disease outbreak and natural enemies, the muga silk production has been affected dramatically. To improve the productivity of this silkworm it is important to have a better knowledge of the factors that affect the most to this silkworm. So, the present study is mainly discussed about factors responsible for the rearing of muga silkworm.