Studies on Application of Disinfectant for Prevention of Diseases in Tasar Silkworm, Antheraea myllitta D. (Lepidoptera: Saturniidae)

The rearing of tasar silkworm is outdoor activity; therefore mortality is tremendous due to parasites, predators, nature's vagaries and diseases. To prevent the occurrence of diseases leading to larval mortality; various surface disinfectants and leaf surface micro flora (LSM) were used. Pathogenic mortality is dominant in A. myllita and most of the larvae were affected by viral or bacterial infection. When disinfectants were used by adopted farmers, less mortality is observed at rearing site of adopted farmers as compared to control rearers. Among the biotic factors viral infection was most common and loss due to viral infection was around 30-40% followed by bacterial infection leading to 20-25% mortality. When disinfectants were used by adopted farmers, less mortality is observed at rearing site of adopted farmer. To check the mortality, disinfectants after testing in the laboratory were given to adopted farmers to analyze their effect on total gain in cocoons. It was found that total mortality was reduced. When larval mortality at traditional farmer with adopted farmer was compared it was found that in case of adopted farmers mortality was reduced.