Antheraea frithi mitogenome was sequenced to understand its phylogenetic and evolutionary relationship. It comprises 22 tRNAs, 13 protein-coding genes, two rRNAs and a AT rich region. The arrangement of mitogenome gene follows the pattern of dytrysian lepidoptera. rrnL gene consists of two unique long consensus repeats copy. tRNAs like structure of trnL and trnP are present in rrnL gene and AT rich region, respectively. The phylogenetic analysis by maximum-likelihood method showed that A. frithi was clustered with A. pernyi and A. yamamai , the commercialized wild silkworms.

The saturniid silkworm species of the genus Samia are potential silk producing insects. Thus, Samia canningi (Lepidoptera: Saturniidae) is a potential candidate to introduce for silk production. The complete mitochondrial genome of S. canningi was 15,384 bp long that contained 37 genes along with a control region. The arrangement of the PCGs was same as the majority of Lepidoptera, presenting the order, trnM/trnI/trnQ between nad2 and control region. Twelve of 13 PCGs started with ATN codons, but cox2 with GTG, which is often found in insects. Genes overlapped in a total of 29 bp, 221 bp of intergenic spacer sequences was found in seventeen regions and the longest 54 bp one was found between trnQ and nad2 as typical in Lepidoptera. In lrRNA, the 21-bp long, tandemly duplicated repeat was characteristically found (TAAAATTATTTATAATATAAA) between 13,663 and 13,706. AT rich region has the motif "ATAGA" and 18 bp poly T stretch, typically conserved in Lepidoptera.

The purpose of this application, under Article 81 of the Code, is to conserve the name Saturnia canningi Hutton, 1859, the progenitor of Samia ricini (Jones, 1791). The eri silk moth (Samia ricini) is the third largest source of silk in world commerce. The Himalayan Samia canningi has been demonstrated to be the wild progenitor of S. ricini, which exists only in captivity. Therefore, the two names refer to the same biological species, but the name Phalaena ricini Jones, 1791 has precedence over Saturnia canningi Hutton, 1859. However, both names have been used widely and consistently by authors in the entomological and sericultural literature for over 150 years to refer to the domesticated and wild entities, respectively. The authors propose that the name Saturnia canningi be conserved and added to the Official List of Specific Names in Zoology, so that it can continue to be used when referring to the wild form.

No abstract

Availability of quality seeds in muga culture for commercial rearing during May-June and Oct-Nov seasons is the biggest challenge, which severely affects the total muga silk production. Both the commercial seasons are preceded by seed and pre-seed seasons with highly unfavourable weather conditions, which affects the availability of quality Disease Free Layings (DFLs) due to low cocoon yield, reduced fecundity, poor hatching and male sterility. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop an integrated approach to improve the availability of quality DFLs during commercial seasons. Towards this end different strategies are being developed and tested. Breeding for selecting muga lines with high fecundity has been taken up. To avoid unfavourable weather conditions during seed crops especially during summer months June-September, efforts are being made to identify the cooler regions in Northeastern states and to take up seed rearing in the selected regions. Wild muga that exhibit winter hibernation are being studied to identify the linked gene and to introgress it into cultivated population to completely avoid rearing during winter season. Adual-purpose cold reeling procedure has been developed, which has also been tested field level, to reel the silk and obtain live pupae for use in grainage. Through biotechnological approaches the realized fecundity has been increased. Improved mountages that provide enough space, aeration and reduced temperature are being tested for increasing the number of good cocoons and also reducing the male sterility due to high temperature. Other approaches such as rearing of seed cocoons in non-traditional areas having muga host plants such an Uttarakhand state, cold preservation of both DFLs and cocoons, new plantations in cooler regions, effective utilization of grainages developed under different government schemes through state governments, etc., are being explored to effectively increase the quality DFL production for use during commercial seasons in muga ecosystem. These approaches are of great promise and help in achieving 'Sustainability Development Goals 2020' of Central Silk Board.