Appraising Performance of Mulberry and Silkworm in Mid Hill Nepal : Economic parameters, mulberry leaf and silkworm cocoon quality, quality enhancement, economic return

Mulberry (Morus sp.) based bivoltine silkworms (Bombyx mori L.) are known to produce quality silk cocoons. Superior silkworm strains feeding on high performing mulberry variety raise economic parameters leading to high return. Silkworms utilize leaf matters and convert the leaf protein into silk protein including their growth and development. This book gives insights into nutritional probe of mulberry varieties through early fasting, leaf quality improvement through fortification, heat tolerance of silkworm strains through heat exposure, effectiveness of feeding period through larval starvation and cocoon quality through mounting density tests for enhancing better performance. Complete rearing of common silkworm strain on selected mulberry varieties and promising silkworm strains on common mulberry variety demonstrate strength of economic parameters. The book therefore, provides pragmatic information in designing a successful silkworm rearing model. The information generated and build up is useful for sericulturists, professionals working in the field of Entomology and students studying Entomology, specifically the sericulture.