Estimation of Levels of Biochemical Components and Excretory Products of Tropical Tasar Silkworm Anthereae Mylitta Drury (sukinda) under Induced Temperature Alterations

Studies on cold acclimation of insects including silkworms have shown significant variations in the levels of various biomolecules to cope with heat-shock. The present study has been carried out on cold-stressed 5th instar Sukinda T.V larvae to analyze the mortality rate, variations in the biomolecules and excretory products at varied durations. In this study, various biochemical assays have been performed in haemolymph, and fat body of the larvae. The results revealed that exposure to low temperatures (10C ± 1C) for seven days leads to 100% mortality, five days exposure caused 58% mortality and two days exposure to cold stress resulted in 42% mortality after reverting the larvae to normal temperature. The treatment of Sukinda T.V larvae with low temperatures resulted in increased aminoacid content in the haemolymph and decreased in fat body of all the three treatments in comparison with control group reared at 28C ± 2C. Significant decrease in urea and uric acid was observed in the larvae exposed to cold stress in comparison with control group.