SERICOGENIC RESOURCES OF ASSAM

MUGA SILK

ERI MUGA

MULBERRY SILK

Sericulture- Rearing of silk worms that produces silk is called sericulture.

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Seri-cultural practices are providing rural economic benefit for the weaker sections of the society.

Sericulture is involved four distinct phases-

1. Host plant cultivation

2. Silkworm rearing

3. Reeling and

4. Weaving

Silk producing moths are under

Class – Insecta

Order - Lepidoptera

Based on the quality of the silk and types of host plants, the silk moths can be classified into two different groups

Silk Moths

1. Mulberry silk worm

2. Non mulberry silk worm

1. Muga silk worm

(Antheraea assama )

2. Eri silk worm

(Philosomia ricini or

P. cynthia)

3. Tassar silk worm

(Antheraea paphia)

Bombyx mori

Host plants of Silk worms