Effect of Feeding Some Kinds of Mulberry Leaves (Morus spp.) to the Growth of Wild Silkmoth Attacus atlas L.

Abstract

Attacus atlas is one of wild silkmoth which has higher economic value than domestic silkmoth Bombyx mori. Attacus atlas is polyfage insect which means it has more host plants even from different family. So, there is possibility that mulberry plant can use as food plant for A. atlas. This study aimed to customize feeding on A. atlas with mulberry leaves as feed and to know the effect of feeding with kinds of mulberry leaves to the growth and life cycle of A. atlas. The cocoon was collected from tea plantation in Purwakarta. Fertile eggs from mating imago was hatched. First instar was fed with four kinds of Mulberry leaves such Morus multicaulis, M. alba var. Kanva 2, M. cathayana and M. bombycis var. Lembang. All of reared larvas could not complete its life cycle. Larval fed with M. alba var. Kanva 2 only survived until first instar and could not moult. Larval fed with M. multicaulis survived until second instar. Larval fed with M. cathayana and M. bombycis var. Lembang survived until third instar. The highest percentages of survival had been achieve by larva fed with M. bombycis var. Lembang, that were 56,63% for first instar and 7,80% for second instar. Keyword : Attacus atlas, mulberry leaves, larval growth