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Research on Industrial Insects: Honey Bee and Silkworm

MOSHARRAF HOSSAIN
Department of Entomology, BAU, Mymensingh

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

Three experiments on two industrial insects, one concerning the activities of honey bee and problems associated with its rearing and other two dealing with cross breeding hybridization of the mulberry silkworm were conducted. The activities of the honey bee, Apis cerana were ascertained by counting the number of bees entering into the beekeeping boxes with pollen and without pollen. Counting of the bees from 10.45 a. m. to 2.15 p. m. within the period of December to March revealed that activities of the working bees were greater during December declining gradually in the following months. Outbreak of European foul brood disease and wax moth including absconding of the bees were identified to be the major problems in beekeeping. Data of four generations of crosses among the locally evolved improved lines and the Chinese races of Bombyx mori showed considerable improvement in Silk filament length and other parameters over those of their parents. The silk filament lengths of the two hybrid lines (BAU-3 and BAU-4) were considerably improved having the Silk filament of 702.2 meters and 715.25 meters respectively.

Keywords: Industrial insects, Honey bee, Silkworm

Location: BAU, Mymensingh

Start Date: 00-12-1990

End Date: 00-05-1991

Program Area: Pest Management

Commodity: Silkworm

Objectives:

The present work on hybridization has been undertaken to evolve high-yierding improved strains of silk- worm through cross breeding and selection.

Methodology:

Experiment No. 1. Observation of the activities of Apis cerana in beekeeping boxes and problems associated with rearing of the species: Two honey bee colonies were maintained in two wooden boxes (Box No. 1 and Box No.2) from December 1990 to March 1991 following conventional method of rearing and maintenance. These boxes were placed in the Universitv campus at the V. C.'s residence to ensure safety and uniformity of the surrounding environment. Each brood chamber was provided with 7 brood frames and the super frames ware supplied when surplus honey was available for the bees. Number of bees carrying pollens and without carrying pollen per minute was counted everyday during the period from 10.45 to 2.15 p, m. The brood frames were checked every week to observe the attack of EFB, wax moth and any other problems occurring in the hive. Experiment No.2. Cross breeding among Chinese and improved local strains of mulberry silkworm for selection of improved hybrid lines: The experiment was initiated in July 1990 and continued up to May 1991 when four generations of the hybrid lines were completed. Two improved local strains-MW-116 and BSRI-802 and two Chinese races Ziangsu-12 (P) and Nannong- 73 (M) were used in the cross breeding to obtain the following hybrid lines: BAU-1 : Ziangsu-12 (P) x MW-112 BAU-2: MW-116 x Ziangsu-12 (P) BALJ-3: Nanno.1g-73 (M) x BSRI 802, BAU-4: BSRI-802 x Nannong-73 (M) The male and female moth of the four parent strains were allowed to mate for six hours. When eggs were laid and patched, the larvae from each hybrid lines were reared separately. After second moult, three hundred larvae from each line were reared in three trays each tray with 100 larvae. 165 Number of eggs per laying, egg hatching percentages, Cocoon and shell weight, cocoon-shell ratio, yield of cocoon per hundred raying (ERR) and length of silk filament were recorded. While selecting improved lines, silk filament length and cocoon shell ratio were particularly considered. The parent lines were maintained to compare the results. Experiment No.3: Cross breeding among Chinese races and Rajshahi strains of mulberry silkworm : This experiment was also initiated, in May 1990 and continued up to May 1991 to complete four generations of inbreeding. Two Chinese races, Ziangsu-12 (P) and Dong-34 (M) and two local strains from Rajshahi- Nistari and R1S1 were used in this cross breeding to obtain the following hybrid lines: BAU- 5 : liangsu-12 (P) x Nistari BAU-6; Nistari x Ziangsn-12(p) BAU-7 : Dong-34(M) x R 1S 1 BAU-8 : R1S1 x Dong-34(M) The technical procedures and the parameters used in this experiment were similar to those followed in the second experiment. The results were based on the average data of four generations.

Source of Information: Proc. BAU Res. Prog. 6: 163-169, 1992

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

Outbreak of European foul brood disease and wax moth including absconding of the bees were identified to be the major problems in beekeeping. Data of four generations of crosses among the locally evolved improved lines and the Chinese races of Bombyx mori showed considerable improvement in Silk filament length and other parameters over those of their parents. The silk filament lengths of the two hybrid lines (BAU-3 and BAU-4) were considerably improved having the Silk filament of 702.2 meters and 715.25 meters respectively.

Knowledge Management: Report/Proceedings