Ravi Kumara R* and Harish Kumar J
Non-commercial rearing of fagara silkworm (Attacus atlas L.) for their silk is done in India for the purpose of substituting conventional silks with 'fagara silk'. The silk has been shown to have the potential to replace ordinary silk due to the quality of the thicker cocoons, less strenuous rearing conditions, and effective fiber characteristics. It is primarily found in the tropical and subtropical rainforests of the Asian continent. The A. atlas is a multivoltine (2 generations/year-3 generations/year). It completes its life cycle from egg to adult within 62 days-100 days. The larvae is highly polyphagous and folivorous in nature. They feed on over 80 species of host plants, of which 6 species (Meyna laxiflora, Terminalia catappa, Sapium insigne, Ficus carica, Juglans regia, and Moynalaxi flora) can be considered as primary food plants based on rearing performance. Depending on the types of leaves the caterpillars consume, the yarns and fabrics can be golden brown or darker brown in color. The A. atlas has immense importance for ecosystem services as well as biomedical applications. Therefore, commercial exploration of A. atlas is need of the hour for the Vanya silk industry and other by-product development. It can enhance the livelihoods and sustainability of the many tribal peoples in the forest areas of India. Hence, the review article provides comprehensive and updated information on fagara silkworm and its sericulture.
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