Quality of Cocoon Wild Silk Moth (Attacus atlas L.) in Different Type of Cocooning Devices

Abstract

Attacus atlas is known as wild silk moth that produce cocoon. The cocoon produce silk and have a great economic potential, but for now Attacus atlas has not yet cocooning devices. The purpose of this research was to get cocooning devices whom produce the best quality of cocoon. The research was conducted from August 2008 until September 2008, at Non-Ruminant and Prospective Animal Division, Animal Husbandry Faculty, Bogor Agriculture Institute. Wild silk moth come from Purwakarta. The experiment used randomized block design, with cocooning device as treatment and four replications. The treatment were box without leaf (P1), box with leaf (P2), silinder without leaf (P3) and silinder with leaf (P4). The obtained data were analized by Analysis of Variance (ANOVA). The variables were weight of floss, fresh cocoon, pupae, cocoon husk, cocoon husk without floss, cocoon length and diameter. All of cocooning devices were no significantly effect. The cocooning device more suitable for female.

Attacus atlas merupakan salah satu plasma nutfah Indonesia. Ulat sutera liar A. atlas menghasilkan benang sutera dan memiliki potensi ekonomi yang baik. Prospek industri benang sutera dari ulat sutera liar (A. atlas) sangat cerah, namun perkembangannya terbentur pada kendala kuantitas dan teknologi, terutama dalam hal budidaya. Informasi penting yang terkait dalam budidaya adalah alat pengokonan. Ulat sutera liar belum memiliki alat pengokonan, lain halnya dengan Bombyx mori yang telah lama dikembangkan. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mendapatkan alat pengokonan yang menghasilkan kualitas kokon terbaik. Penelitian dilakukan dari bulan Agustus sampai dengan September 2008 di Laboratorium Non- Ruminansia dan Satwa Harapan, Fakultas Peternakan, Institut Pertanian Bogor. Ulat sutera liar yang digunakan diperoleh dari perkebunan teh di daerah Purwakarta.