Motor activity of the silkworm (Bombyx mori L.) as a factor of synchronization of population development

Abstract

Natural silk was and remains the most elite and luxurious material. Silk is made from cocoons of the silkworm (Bombyx mori L.). The silkworm is part of the Holometabola group (insects with complete transformation). This means that the silkworm goes through several stages of development: egg, larva with four molts, pupa, butterfly. Each stage, depending on the breed and conditions of maintenance, is characterized by a certain duration and the so-called amity of development. In Uzbekistan, it is customary to carry out one feeding per year, timed to the beginning of the mulberry vegetation, therefore, tens of billions of caterpillars are simultaneously subjected to reproduction for 28–30 days. Changing the duration of any of the stages of development of the silkworm leads to destabilization of the feeding process and, as a result, to large material losses. Selection by motor activity, which implies the selection of the most active, and therefore the most viable individuals, leads to an acceleration of the metabоlism of the silkworm, synchronizes the development of a huge number of organisms at all stages of development, allows to coordinate with accuracy up to 1 day the work of all departments of the silk industry, accurately calculate time, human resources, the use of technical means and monetary costs for each stage and the entire cycle of reproduction of the silkworm.