BIVOLTINE RACE AND

The standard practice is to give 3-4 feedings per day at equal intervals. Under conditioned
temperature (27"C) and humidity (85%),2 feeds per day are adequate during the first and
second instars. When larvae are preparing for moult at each stage, the mulberry leaves are to
be cut more finely than usual so that the unconsumed leaves dry quickiy.
The appetite of the silkworm is low at the beginning of each instar, gradually increases
with growth and again decreases towards the end of each stage. Therefore, the amount of feed
should be regulated according to the growth of the larvae.
4.13. Cleaning
Cleaning of silkworm bed is not recommended during the first instar and cleaning is given
soon after resumption from 1st moult. A net with mesh size 0.5 cm x 0.5 cm is spread over the
rearing bed before feeding.
5.0. LATE AGE REARING
Ensure the availability of required quantity of rearing appliances, quality and quantity of
leaf to complete the late age rearing. The minimum requirement of late age reafing equipment
for 100 dfls (40,000 larvae) is given in Table 4.
Table 4. Requirement of rearing equipment/lO0 dfls (40,000 larvae) for late age
Si. No. Item Quantity (No.)
1. Round bamboo trays (1.2 m dia)
or
Wooden trays (0.75m x 1.05m)
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
6.
Rearing standp (@tO trays/stand)
Ant wells
Cleaning Nets
Feeding Stands
Bamboo spiral mountages (1.8m x 1.2m)
or
Plastic collapsible mountages (19 folds)
Room Heater (Thermostatic control)
Gator Sprayer
4A
60
4-6
In addition to above, sufficient quantity of formalin, lime, uzicide, bleaching powder, RKO
etc., should be kept in ready stock during rearing.
The 5th age larvae cannot tolerate high temperature and high relative humidity as well
as poor ventilation. During this stage, larvae eat voraciously and their body water is released.
Therefore, good ventilation should be given to bring down their body temperature, removal
of vapours, harmful gases etc., arise from the large quantities of excreta generated due to high
amount of feed consumed.
Bed spacing for the optimum larval growth has to be ensured sufficiently as indicated in
Table 5 by gradually increasing the bed area everyday at the time of 9 a.m. feeding.
2A
100
J
40
100
1,
1
13