A brief account on the host plants, cocoons, and silk produced by Tassar, Muga, and Eri silkworm and its commercial importance.

1. SERICULTURE-MZOO334
CIA 1
Food plants,
Types of
cocoons and silk
produced.
Submitted to:-
Dr. Krishnakumar V
Dept of Life Sciences
CHRIST (Deemed to be University)
Prepared and Presented by:-
Sabahat Batul Khusnuma
Reg no:- 2047832
2MZOO
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2. -CONTENTS-
1. TYPES OF SILKWORMS
2. TYPES OF SILKMOTHS
3. TASSAR – HOST PLANTS, COCOONS AND SILK
PRODUCED.
4. MUGA – HOST PLANTS, COCOONS AND SILK
PRODUCED.
5. ERI –HOST PLANTS, COCOONS AND SILK PRODUCED.
6. REFRENCES
02

3. -Types of Silkworms-
01
03 04
02
Muga
Eri
Tassar
Mulberry
03

4. TYPES OF SILK Moths
03 04
01 02
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5. Tassar
• The word tasar apparently derives from the Sanskrit
word “trasara”.
• Tasar silk is mentioned in literature dating back to 1590
B.C.
• The Indian tasar silkworm, Antheraea mylitta is a natural
fauna of tropical India.
• Wide distribution and polyphagy of this insect species
had resulted in extensive variation in the population.
• Tasar cocoons are reported to be largest among all the
silk-producing insects in the world.
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6. Tassar
• Tasar cocoons are reported to be largest among all the silk-producing
insects in the world.
• Tasar silk fiber has its own distinctive colour, is coarse to feel, but has
higher tensile strength, elongation, and stress-relaxation values than the
mulberry silk fiber secreted by Bombyx mori.
• These properties have made tasar silk as competent and desirable as
mulberry silk.
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7. Tassar Cocoons
• The mature larvae spin cocoons which are hard with different colours according
to the types of plant leaves they fed.
• Some are light green, others are yellow, and some are grey and others almost
white.
• Unlike mulberry cocoons, the tasar cocoon has a stalk (peduncle) which helps
in fixing the cocoon with the twig of host plant.
• The tasar cocoon attains a size like that of hen’s egg.
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8. Tassar
Host Plants:
• The larvae of Antheraea mylitta are polyphagus and can take leaves of
several
• host plants like Arjun, Asan, Ber, Sal, Jam, Sidha, etc.
Asana plant
Arjuna leaves
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9. Tassar Silk
• In India, the production of tropical tasar silk remained next to mulberry silk for
decades, constituting about 4 per cent of the total silk production.
• There is an ever-increasing demand for tasar silk owing to its strength, lustre
and copper brown colour.
• The tasar silk production has stagnated and declined in the recent past though
the demand is increasing.
• The important reasons for low production are attributed to traditional method of
silkworm rearing on tall trees in natural habitat, which exposes the larvae to a
number of predators, parasites and diseases apart from natural vagaries.
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10. Tassar Silk
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11. Oak Tasar silk
• A finer variety of tasar silk is generated by the silkworm Antheraea proyeli
and A. pernyi.
• China is the major producer of this tasars but in India it is available in
Manipur, Assam, Meghalaya, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir.
• These moths feed on leaves of oak, are found in abundance in sub-
Himalayan belt.
• The oak tasar is finer than the common tasar silk.
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12. Eri silkworm
• Eri silkworm, Philosamia ricini is multivolitine and their
cocoons are open mouthed.
• The Eri silkworm Philosamia ricini, is also known as Endi or
Errandi and it belonging to family saturniidae.
• It is one of the commercially exploited silkworm species and
can be reared indoors throughout the year to produce silk.
• The silk produced by Philosamia ricini is called Eri silk.
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13. Eri silkworm - host plants
• Eri silkworm is a polyphagus insect and feeds on the leaves of several
food plant viz,
- Castor (Ricinus communis L),
- Tapioca (Manihot esculenta, Crantz.),
- Wild castor (Jatropha curcas L.),
- Papaya (Carica papaya L.),
- Barkesseru (Ailanthus exceisa Roxb.),
- Kesseru (Heteropanan fragrans Seem.), etc.
• Although, Eri silkworm is known to feed on the leaves of more than 30
host plant species but among them Castor is considered as the principal
host plant.
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14. Eri silkworm - host plants
- Castor (Ricinus communis L) - Papaya (Carica papaya L.)
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15. Eri silkworm cocoon
• The larva possesses a long tubular silk glands. This gland is responsible
for production of silk.
• The silk gland secrets the silky substance to form the cocoon. In the
cocoon , the larva transform into a chrysalid.
• The larva of last instar before moulting ceases feeding and transform into
a chrysalid.
• The larva excretes silk substance after settling in a crevice and spin the
cocoon.
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16. Eri silkworm cocoon
• In 3-4 days, the cocoon formation is completed. Inside the cocoon the
larva transforms itself into a brown coloured chrysalid.
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17. Eri silk
• The silk produced by eri moths is referred to as eri and endi or errandi silk by
local people. This silk is collected from pierced cocoons, so it is spun silk. The
fibres in the cocoon are like a tiny bale of cotton, all wound together and
tangled. So when eri silk is spun, it forms a lower grade of silk of unusual
quality.
• Depending on how it is spun and woven it can give a very woolly result and as
with poorly made wools, eri can feel like cheap acrylic. But it can also give a
tight, strong fibre-like linen. This is what makes eri textiles amazing — they can
have the drape and weight of linen but are warm and insulating like cotton or
wool Eri silk is less glossy and wrinkleless.
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18. Eri silk
• Eri silk fabric is a boon for those who practice absolute non-violence, not using
any product obtained by killing any animal.
• It is widely used by everyone in the regions in which it is produced. It is
becoming popular the world over. Buddhist monks in India, Bhutan, Nepal,
China, and Japan prefer this silk, due to its non-violent origins.
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19. Eri silk
• In India, eri was mostly used for the preparation of winter shawls for men and
women. The thermal properties of eri silk makes it a suitable fabric for shawls,
jackets, blankets, and bed spreads. Dress materials and baby dresses are also
made from eri silk fabric because of its soft texture and moisture absorbent
quality.
• Nowadays very fine (up to 210 Nm eri spun yarns are available, which enables
weavers to weave very fine clothing, including traditional sari dress materials.
• Eri silk is durable and strong and has a typical texture; hence, it is widely used
in home furnishing like curtains, bed covers, cushion covers, wall hangings,
quilts, etc. Its woolly feel adds to the comfort.
• Two eri spun-silk mills have been established in Hindupur in Andhra Pradesh
and Kokrajhar in Assam while another is at Chaygaon, near Guwahati, Assam,
which is spinning the finest Eri spun-silk yarn with various blends with bamboo,
muga silk, and cotton.
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20. Eri silk
• Eri silk products are promoted as eco-friendly and natural,
and provide jobs and money for the tribal peoples who
practice eri culture.
• Eri silk production in India during 2007–2008 was 1,530
tons.
• This made up 73 percent of the total wild silk production
of 2,075 tons.
• Vegan designer Lucy Tammam uses eri silk in her couture
evening and bridal wear collections.
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21. Eri silk
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22. Muga Silkworm
• The Golden silk Muga is the pride of Assam, associated with the Assamese
culture and tradition
• Muga culture is monopoly in Assam.
• Muga is an endemic silkworm species, prevalent in the Bhramaputra valley and
the adjoining hills by the virtue of its typical agro-climatic conditions.
• Assam alone contributes 95% of the total Muga raw silk production.
• Facts!!
Muga silkworm is having the least no of
chromosomes among the saturnid
moths
n=15
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23. Muga Host Plants
• The muga worm feeds on aromatic
leaves of Som and Soalu
• It can also be reared on host plants similar
to that of tasar worms.
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24. Muga Food Plants
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25. Muga Cocoon
• Larval period lasts for 30-35 days. The
Ripeworms come down the trees searching
for a suitable place for spinning of cocoon.
• It is believed that cocooning in singari
leaves produces shining and compact cocoons.
Spinning takes about 2-3 days in summer
and 7 days in winter.
• Muga cocoon is golden or light brown in
colour, 4-6 cm long and 2-3 cm broad with a
rudimentary peduncle without ring
Female cocoon. Male cocoon
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26. Muga Silk
• Muga silk is a natural shining golden colour, and is a stain free fabric.
• Muga silk fabric is the 2nd costliest fabric in the world next to Pashmina.
• It is precious, durable, lustrous, strongest silk among all other types of natural
silk.
• No artificial dye is required.
• Everlasting colour stability. In fact the golden colour increases after every
wash.
• The fabric is permitted to be washed by all washing materials. No washing
restrictions.
• It can absorb Ultra Violet radiations up to 85%
• Moisture regain capacity is up to 30%.
• Acid resistant.
• Has higher tensile strength, comfortable to wear all over the year due to its
thermostatic nature.
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27. Muga silk
27

28. Traditional Products Of Muga Silk.
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29. Diverse Products Of Muga Silk
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30. Other Uses Of Muga Silk
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31. Muga silk in Assamese Cullture
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32. S.I.
NO
Type of silk
Scientific name
of the silkworm
Host plant Producing
states
01
Tropical tasar
(copperish
colour)
Antheraea mylitta
(Satturniidae)
Arjuna
(Terminalia
arjuna), Asan,
saal etc.
Jharkhand,
Orissa, West
Bengal,
Andhra
Pradesh,
02
Eri silk
(White colour)
Samia cynthia
(Saturniidae)
Castor (Ricinus
communis)
North east
states, Bihar,
Orissa, West
Bengal.
03
Muga silk
(Golden yellow
colour)
Antheraea assama
(Saturniidae)
Som
(Machilus
bombycine)
Soalu (Litsaea
polyantha)
Assam
(Brahmaputra
valey)
32

33. References (Websites)
• “MUGA (Non-mulberry) cultivation in Cooch Behar,” Coochbehar.nic.in, 2021.
http://coochbehar.nic.in/htmfiles/cob_seri_muga.html (accessed Jul. 17, 2021).
• L. Syiemlieh, “Raising Silkworms and the Methods of Rearing Different Types of Silk
Cocoons,” Muezart, Jun. 06, 2019. https://www.muezart.com/blogs/muezart-musings/from-cocoons-
to-threads-how-to-rear-different-types-of-silkworms-and-weave-
them#:~:text=Silkworm%20rearings%20are%20of%20four,Eri%2C%20Muga%2C%20and%20Tasar.
(accessed Jul. 17, 2021).
• “Host Plants of Tasar Silkworm | Handloom Textiles & Sericulture | Government Of Assam,
India,” Assam.gov.in, 2017. https://hts.assam.gov.in/portlet-innerpage/host-plants-of-tasar-silkworm
(accessed Jul. 17, 2021).
• “Life Cycle of Muga Silkworm,.” Accessed: Jul. 17, 2021. [Online]. Available:
https://www.shivajicollege.ac.in/sPanel/uploads/econtent/6bed6f9419a258064d9af0e96507d63a.pdf.
• “Life Cycle of Philosamia ricini,.” Accessed: Jul. 17, 2021. [Online]. Available:
https://www.shivajicollege.ac.in/sPanel/uploads/econtent/c0b02104a0b4838dd778953f485f4c3f.pdf.
• “Life Cycle of Tasar Silkworm Introduction-Classification,.” Accessed: Jul. 17, 2021. [Online]. Available:
https://www.shivajicollege.ac.in/sPanel/uploads/econtent/d7087d76d2106f258390ba1ec46c7e1c.pdf
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34. References (Articles)
• B. Sailaja, P. Sudhakar Rao, D. K. Gogoi, and R. K. Mishra, “Development of muga silkworm
Antheraea assamensis (Helfer) egg preservation schedule based on embryonic...,” ResearchGate,
May 05, 2019.
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/341151283_Development_of_muga_silkworm_Antheraea_
assamensis_Helfer_egg_preservation_schedule_based_on_embryonic_growth_studies (accessed
Jul. 17, 2021).
• B. Zhou and H. Wang, “Structure and Functions of Cocoons Constructed by Eri Silkworm,” Polymers,
vol. 12, no. 11, p. 2701, Nov. 2020, doi: 10.3390/polym12112701.
• S. S. Silva, B. Kundu, S. Lu, R. L. Reis, and S. C. Kundu, “Chinese Oak Tasar SilkwormAntheraea
pernyiSilk Proteins: Current Strategies and Future Perspectives for Biomedical
Applications,” Macromolecular Bioscience, vol. 19, no. 3, p. 1800252, Oct. 2018, doi:
10.1002/mabi.201800252.
• P. C. Bindu, P. Jaisankar, F. Hauer, H. O. Gutzeit, and S. C. Kundu, “Biological relevance of host
plant-derived terpenoid in the cocoons of the tropical tasar silkworm Antheraea mylitta,” Biochemical
Systematics and Ecology, vol. 34, no. 9, pp. 698–704, Sep. 2006, doi: 10.1016/j.bse.2006.05.003.
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35. THANK
YoU!
For your
patience!!!
Do you have any questions?
Prepared & presented by:
Sabahat Batul Khusnuma
Reg no:- 2047832
2MZOO
CHRIST (Deemed to be
University)
35