Nishant Kumar and Dr. Farheen Waziri
Abstract:
\r\nThe tropical tasar silkworm, Antheraea mylitta, is an economically important wild silkworm species widely reared in the forests of India. The growth and productivity of this silkworm largely depend on the nutritional quality of its host plants. The present study investigates the foliar biochemical composition of three major host plants—Terminalia arjuna, Terminalia tomentosa, and Shorea robusta—and evaluates their influence on the growth performance of Antheraea mylitta larvae. Important biochemical constituents such as proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, phenols, and moisture content were analyzed. Larval growth parameters, including larval weight, larval duration, and cocoon characteristics, were also assessed. The results indicated that Terminalia arjuna had higher protein and carbohydrate content than other host plants, significantly enhancing larval growth and cocoon yield. In contrast, Shorea robusta showed higher phenolic compounds that negatively influenced larval development. The study highlights the importance of selecting nutritionally superior host plants to enhance productivity in tasar sericulture.\r\n
