Effect of two agricultural pesticides on mulberry silkworm, Bombyx mori

Abstract

Effect of two important agricultural pesticides viz., Cuprasol and Parasan-I on larval duration, fecundity, fertility and hatchability in mulberry silkworm Bombyx mori L. have been investigated. The chemicals at 250, 500 and 750mg/50/larvae were administered to III instar larvae by topical application method to multivoltine Pure Mysore and bivoltine Kalimpong-A races of silkworm B. mori. The results show that in Pure Mysore, both fecundity and hatchability were reduced significantly by both the chemicals. While in Kalimpong-A both the chemicals could bring reduction in fecundity only, indicating racial variation with regard to sensitivity limits to the chemicals. However, both the chemicals could not bring significant variation neither in larval duration nor in fertility.