Question

Tasar silkworm feeds on leaves of________
a. Mulberry
b. Castor
c. Ber
d. Rubber

Answer 1

Hint: Tasar silkworm is a common name for Antheraea mylitta which is a species of moth in the family. It is also known as Vanya silkworm. There are many species of silkworms that produce silk and tasar worms are one of those. The native of these species in India.

Complete answer:
Tasar silkworm produces Tussar silk, which is a wild silk. This silk is made from the products of saturniid silkworms. There are 44 different variations of these Tasar silkworms. They all have adapted according to their environmental conditions and food present in that specific environment. From 44 variations, 10 silkworm variations have been used to study their life cycle and silk characteristics. Some of the varied species are differentiated in that they do not interbreed in nature.

This species feeds on Terminalia trees and also on Shorea robusta. They do eat other kinds of plants depending on which environment they are living in. Other plants on which they feed include Indian Jujube, Axlewood, Jambul, Kumbi, and Anjan.

Hence, the correct answer is option (C).

Note: The silk produced by Tasar silkworm (Tussar silk) varies in color from domesticated silkworm silk. Tussar silk is coarser and stronger than other silk and can be used in many applications. Tasar silkworms are susceptible to pebrine which is a disease caused by fungi (microsporidian) from the genus Nosema. It is protected from these fungi as Tasar silkworms are lethal to larvae.