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Biology of Attacus atlas (Lepidoptera : Saturniidae) A Wild Silk Worm of India

Article  in  Indian Journal of Applied Research · October 2014

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 Research Paper Agriculture Volume : 4 | Issue : 10 | October 2014 | ISSN - 2249-555X

Biology of Attacus atlas (Lepidoptera : Saturniidae)

A Wild Silk Worm of India

Keywords Attacus atlas, wild silkworm, biology

* Dr. T. V. SATHE Dr. R. P. Kavane

Professor in Entomology, Department of Zoology,
Department of Zoology, Y.C. Warna Mahavidyalaya,
Shivaji University, Kolhapur 416 004, India.
Warananagar, Kolhapur 416 004
*Corresponding Author.

ABSTRACT Attacus atlas, Linnaeus (Lepidoptera : Saturniidae) is wild silk worm, which produce durable, brownish and
wooly like silk. The silk worms feed on Angeer Ficus carica Linnaeus, Castor Recinus comnunis, Mango
Mangifera indica Linnaeus and Custard apple Annona squamosa Linnaeus. The biology of A. atlas was studied on E.
carica at laboratory conditions (27±1oC, 75-80% R.H. and 12 hr photoperiod). A. atlas completed its life cycle from
egg to adult within 62 days. Incubation, larval and pupal periods were 10 days, 26.5 days and 28 days respectively.
Morphological features and general appearance of immature stages of A. atacus have been reported. Moth emergence
from cocoon took place early in the morning. Mated female laid 134 to 160 eggs. The pupa was brownish colored and
4.4 cm long and 1.5 cm broad.

INTRODUCTION The oval dorsoventrally compressed eggs were with hard

India is the only country in the world which produces 4 chitinised shell, composed of hexagonal cells. Egg was
to 5 kinds of commercial silks namely, mulberry silk from about 3.04 mm in length and 2.5 mm in breadth, weighing
Bombyx mori L., Tasar silk from Antheraea mylitta Drury, about 0.012 g. The newly laid eggs look creamy white but
Muga silk from Antheraea assama W. and Eri silk from Sa- became light brown later. Eggs were laid scattered and
mia cynthia ricini Hutt. Out of which rearing techniques have gummy substances due to which they get attached
for B. mori, A. assama and S.c. ricini have been well es- to each other. Incubation period was 10 days.
tablished and for A. mylitta is poorly established. However,
rearing techniques for Attacus atlas L. is yet to be estab- Larval Stage (Figure 3)
lished. In fact, biology of this worm is also not fully known.
Therefore, the present paper deals with biology of A. atlas The first instar larvae were 1.7 cm in length, 0.3 cm in
on its natural food plant Angeer Ficus carica Linnaeus. Re- breadth and 0.020 g in weight. Body colour was white with
view of literature indicates that very little is known about black inter segmental region. There were six tubercles in
the biology of silk work A. atlas except the work of Kavane each body segment of silk worm from 1st to 10th and five
& Sathe (2011) and Saikia and Handique (1998). The biol- on 11th and four tubercles on the remaining 12th and 13th
ogy of other wild silk worms are studied by several work- body segments. Each tubercles beared some hair like se-
ers those are listed in references of the text. tae.

MATERIALS & METHODS The late stage of 1st instar larvae were quite different from
The cocoons and larvae of A. atlas were collected from the early stage. During late stage. They were 2 cm in
the forests of Western Maharashtra on natural food plants length and 0.34 cm in breadth and weight 0.112 g. The
such as Angeer F. carica, Mango Mangifera indica, Lin- early and late stage of this instar lasted for 1.5 days and
naeus Castor Ricinus communis Linnaeus and Custard ap- 3.5 days respectively. During late stage, the head of the
ple Annona squamosa Linnaeus and reared on F. carica tubercle became blunt and knob shaped. This instar lasted
leaves for adult emergence. Female moths emerging from for 5 days.
the cocoons were tied on along with their own cocoon and
kept in the cage with male moth. The eggs were collected Second instar larvae were whitish dorsally and some
from floor walls of the cage at room temperature (27±1oC, what orange-red on the lateral side of the body. Crystal-
75-80% R.H. and 12 hr photoperiod) containing luxuri- line powdery substance was found on all the tubercles.
ant leaves of F. carica cut under water and kept in conical The dorsal tubercles were bluish in colour. The head be-
flasks filled with water. The newly hatched larvae were re- came light brown in colour. Second instar larvae measured
leased on the branches of host food plant with the help of about 2.61 cm in length, 0.4 cm in breadth and 0.785 g in
camel hair brush and feather. Branches were changed from weight. This stage lasted for 4.5 days.
time to time and rearing area was cleaned every day. After
maturity, the larvae were transferred to dry leaf branches Third instar larvae were with five additional pairs of vent-
for spinning cocoons. Cocoons were harvested after 6-8 rolateral tubercles on each side of the first five body seg-
days of pupation. Later, adult emergence was noted. Ob- ments. The reddish colour was disappeared. The first three
servations have been made on eggs, larvae, pupae and rows of dorsal tubercles gradually shortened. The clasper
adults with respect to their duration and morphological showed triangular shaped red ring. The larvae measured
features. Observations were also made on oviposition and 3.2 cm, 0.8 cm and 2.780 g in body length, width and
mating behaviour. weight respectively. This instar lasted for 4.0 days.

RESULTS Fourth instar larvae measured 5.52 cm in length, 1.3 cm in

Eggs (Figure 1) breadth and 5.58 g in weight. The dorsal tubercles of first

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 Research Paper Volume : 4 | Issue : 10 | October 2014 | ISSN - 2249-555X

three segments were completely disappeared. All the lat- the rearing of Attacus larvae particularly the later instars
eral tubercles became black. Nine pairs of spiracles were could be achieved by feeding them on a mixed diet of
seen. This stage lasted for 6.0 days. above said plants. Murphy (1990) was the first to mention
the present of Attacus in mangrove habits, stating that A.
Fifth instar larvae (Figure 3) were 11.14 cm, 2.4 cm, and atlas occurred once on Avicennia alba Bl. (Avicenniaceae)
22.6 g in length, width and body weight respectively. and simultaneously with many other trees. However, it
Body colour became dark green and the lateral tubercles occurred at low levels on Bruguiera gymnorhiza (L.) Lamk
turned blue at the base and black at the tips. Dorsal tu- (Rhizophoraceae). In the present study biology of A. at-
bercles became blue in color. The thoracic legs were coni- las was studied on host plant F. carica and the silkworm
cal shaped with sharp distal claws. The 6th to 9th abdomi- completed its life cycle from egg to adult within 64.5 days.
nal segments, each beared a pair of abdominal legs which However, A. atlas was found feeding on the leaves of M.
were fleshy and flat. Terminally, they formed a disc with indica, A. sqnamosa and R. communis from the environ-
a series of hooks inwardly curved and arranged in a semi- ment of forests of Western Ghats.
circle manner. However, a pair of white spots appeared on
the ventral side of the 11th abdominal segment in the fe- Rajadurai et. al. (1998) studied the life cycle of Actias se-
male larvae but a only single spot was visible in male. The lene and reported that A. selene was distributed widely
dorsal tubercles project backwards and lateral tubercles all along the mixed forests plants such Terminalia arjuna,
project forward. The instar fifth lasted for 7 days. T. tomentosa and Zizipus mauritiana. The incubation pe-
riod of egg was 9 days, the larval period was 31 days and
Pupa and cocoons (Figure 4) the pupal duration was 18 days. The adult males survived
for 3-4 days and females 4-6 days. The total period for
The mature larva constructed its cocoon on fresh leaves completion of life cycle was 58 days. While, in the present
dry branch of host plant and suspended it from the twig study of life cycle from egg to adult was completed within
with the help of a long stalk. It spun its silk fibre around 64.5 days which is considerably longer than A. selene.
its body with the help of spinneret and tubercles. The pu-
pae were brown coloured and 4.4 cm, 1.4 cm and 7.6 g Cotes (1891-93), Barlow (1982) studied the host plants of
in length, width and body weight respectively. This stage A. selene. A. selene feed on Zanthoxylus acanthopedium
lasted for 28 days. The colour of cocoon was grayish D.C., Z. alatum Roxb (Rutaceae), Cedrela paniculata (Meli-
brown. A. atlas silkworm undergoes pupation in an open aceae). Coriana nepalensis Wall. (Coriariaceae), wild cherry
type silk cage. Prinus, Wild peer Pyrus (both Rosaceae), walnut (Juglan-
daceae) and other fruit trees in Northern India.
Moth (Figure 5 & 6 )
Nassig and Peigler (1984) stated that some members of
Moth emergence took place in the early morning and Anacardiaceae are good host plants for A. selene. Host
just after emergence it clinged to its own cocoon and plants Heptapleurum octophyllum B. and H. (Araliaceae)
remained there for 8-10 hours till its wings were fully were reported from Hong Kong (Potter, 1941). Chen-
stretched. The males were more active than females. The Shuren et. al. (1997) observed in China that larvae of A.
male moth survived for 2-3 days and the female for 4-6 selene ningopoana Felder caused considerable damage
days after copulation and of egg laying respectively. The to the plant, Cornus officinalis Sieh at Zuccy feeding on
reddish brown moth has a wing span of 26 cm in male leaves. The moon moth (A. selene) pupa undergoes sum-
and 28 cm in female. The basal area of the forewings mer diapause. The moth exhibits trivoltine nature which
was brown and red brown edged with red, pale and black is to synchronize with the meteorological condition of the
lines. Medial area was red brown. At the end of cell with region. In the present study only three generations have
a black edge a large hyaline spot was noted. Apical area been completed by A. atlas.
was with yellow to pink shade. A yellow brown marginal
band with a highly waved black line was present on the According to Jolly et. al. (1977) a tasar silkworm A. mylitta
fore and hind wings. was polyphagous in nature feeding on a number of host
plants. T. arjuna (Arjun). T. tomentosa (Asan) and S. ro-
The males coupled with the females (Fig. 6) at dusk which busta (Sal) were best among all the food plants and con-
lasted for 12-24 hours. The female (Figure 5) laid 134 to sidered as primary food plants for commercial rearing.
150 eggs which were scattered on the sides of cage. They have since been adopted for large scale exploitation
for tasar rearing in the country. Thangavellu (1992) and
From Western Ghats and Forest Environment A. atlas was Thangavellu et. al. (1991) discussed the need for conserva-
recorded feeding on the leaves of F.carica(Figure 2), M. in- tion of wild sericigenous insects of India and also indoor
dica, A. squamosa and R. communis. rearing of tasar silkworm (A. mylitta) for domestication. He
also highlighted the importance of systematic research on
DISCUSSION various aspects of non-mulbeery silk.
Saikia and Handique (1998) studied the life cycle of A.
atlas by providing main food plant Meyna laxiflora under Kavane and Sathe (2008) reported rearing technique for
which the incubation period of eggs was 10 days, the tasar silkworm A. mylitta. Their results indicated that the
larval period was 28 days and the pupal duration was 28 rearing success of A. mylitta on T. catappa under labora-
days. The adult male survived for 2-3 days and female 4-6 tory conditions (24±10C, 65-70 per cent R. H. and 14 hr
days. Jolly et. al. (1997) reported grayish brown colour of photoperiod) was 45 per cent. The cocoon quality was
the cocoon of A. atlas insect. While, Hampson (1892) re- satisfactory. The silkworms were adopted in indoor rearing
ported tubercular arrangement in the larva of A. atlas. technique by preparing no peduncle which was normally
spun by the worms in outdoor rearing was outstanding
Peigler (1989) reported over 100 plant species belonging feature of the success of indoor rearing technique.
to 90 genera in 48 families as host plants for Attacus spp.
Villiard (1969) was of the opinion that greater success on In past, attempts have been made by some workers

INDIAN JOURNAL OF APPLIED RESEARCH X 5

 Research Paper Volume : 4 | Issue : 10 | October 2014 | ISSN - 2249-555X

(Chaobas Singh 2005; Sathe and Jadhav, 2001; Shami-

tha, 2007; Kavane and Sathe, 2008, etc.) to develop in-
door rearing method for tasar silkworm A. mylitta. Institute
of sericultural and an entomological science, Japan has
developed some artificial diet for tropical tasar silkworm
containing Asan leaf powder, the principal food plant, and
has achieved success to some extent (Akai et. al. 1991).
However, no biology of A. atlas has been reported on host
plant E. carico.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
Authors are thankful to Shivaji University, Kolhapur for pro-
viding facilities to this work. Fig. 3:- A. atlas larva (5th instar)

Fig. 4:- A. atlas cocoons

Fig. 1:- A. atlas eggs

Fig. 5:- A. atlas female

Fig. 6:- A. atlas mating

Fig. 2:- F. carica twig

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Research Paper Volume : 4 | Issue : 10 | October 2014 | ISSN - 2249-555X

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