A Unique Technique for Artificial Insemination in Tasar Silkworm, Antheraea mylitta with Fresh and Frozen Semen

Artificial insemination is a very important tool and has been used for hybrids, mutant lines and producing inbred lines is only possible with a method that ensures controlled mating. During the tasar eggs production, male and female emergence are differ as male moths abundance during early phase where as female later phase of grainage which resulted loss of uncoupled female moths (10 to 19%). To reduce loss of eggs and necessity of hybrid/inbred lines in Antheraea mylitta, present study was conducted. A unique and farmers friendly technique of artificial insemination of A. mylitta has been developed. A Tris buffer diluent with volume of 100 µl effective for homogenous mixing of semen collected from single male. The response was decreases on advancement of age of male and female for collection of semen and insemination. The data reveals that there were no significant difference observed among treatment on fecundity, hatching and chawki survival of larvae when female moth inseminated with fresh semen, semen kept at 0°C for 1 day and at -80°C for up to 120 days. It can be concluded that artificial insemination with fresh and frozen is feasible in A. myltta which is very helpful to tasar silk industry.