Rearing of Eri silkworm on Tapioca

Eri silkworm is polyphagous species and reared mostly on the leaves of Castor and Kesseru plant. Tapioca is also as known as Cassava is an important starchy root crops and has been grown in India for more than a century. Tapioca leaves are also good source of protein and are utilized as secondary source of food to rear eri silkworm. Almost all insect are host specific their most preferred food in order to extract the maximum benefit out of it,although most of them eat a great many varieties. Different food plants may influence differently on food intake, efficiency of digestion and conversion of food to body biomass and finally on growth and development of insect. Ericulture has a good potential as a subsidary source of income for tapioca farmers in North-Eastern region of India. The hilly areas of this region have ample scope for expansion of tapioca cultivation nnot only as a source for supplementary diet for the people but also increasing the quantum of leaf for eri silkworm rearing and eri silk production. This book will useful for silkworm growers, entomologist, researcher, students and sericulture industries.