Reproductive Biology of Muga Silk Moth <i>Antheraea assamensis</i> Helfer

Abstract

Results of morphological and morphometric study of male and female reproductive systems of Antheraea assamensis Helfer (Saturniidae: Lepidoptera), a silk moth cultivated exclusively in the North Eastern Region of India are reported herein along with some observations on its reproductive performance in four seasons. The male reproductive system consists of a pair of testes, paired vasa deferentia, seminal vesicle, ductus ejaculatorius duplex, ductus ejaculatorius simplex, an aedeagus and a pair of male accessory glands. The female reproductive system consists of a pair of ovaries, each with four ovarioles, paired lateral oviducts, a common oviduct which has a dorsal protrusion, the vestibulum, a bursa copulatrix, a spermatheca and a pair of female accessory glands with their reservoirs. Fecundity has been found to be positively correlated with female pupal weight in each season. Hatching % of eggs has been found lowest and significantly different (p<0.001) in summer as compared to autumn, winter and spring seasons. Morphology of eupyrene and apyrene sperm bundles and sperm has also been reported.