Evaluation of New Host Plant Species for Ericulture

C. Manjunatha Naik; C. Murthy

Evaluation of New Host Plant Species for Ericulture

Affiliations
1 Department of Agricultural Entomology, College of Agriculture, University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad Karnataka, India
2 Department of Agribusiness Management, College of Agriculture, University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad Karnataka, India

Eri silkworm (Samia cynthia ricini Donovan) is polyphagous in nature and feeds on leaves of several food plants viz., castor (Ricinus communis), It is a multivoltine in nature and reared in indoor condition. Among 23 plant species tried for ericulture, five plant species have been accepted by the eri silkworm as food plants. Out of five plant species, eri larvae had good feeding response and survivability on fountain tree, banyan tree and Indian almond, moderate response on carrot leaves and slight feeding response and survivability on jack fruit leaves.