Question

Which of the following species of silkworms are found in India?
A. Bombyx mori
B. Antheraea paphia
C. Antheraea assama
D. All the above

Answer 1

Hint: The Antheraea Paphia are the wild silkworms that produce a large number of non-mulberry silk. They are often called the tussah silk or the Tasar silk. Silk is used in many countries around the world for a very long time, but the scale of the production of silk is smaller as compared to that of which is cultivated from the silkworms.

Complete answer:
In India, there are mainly four types of silk available which are mulberry, tasar, Muga, and eri silk. In the southern part of India, a small tussore known as the Antheraea paphia which is the moth of the Saturniidae family is found. These are commonly named as the tussah silk and the moths are named as the tussah moths. The moth of Anthera Paphia feeds on the trees such as the Terminalia tomentosa, Anogeissus, Madhuca Indica, and many others. The tussah silk is a coarse silk material which is generated from the Antheraea Paphia.
Hence the correct option is ‘B’ Antheraea paphia

Note: The Antheraea Paphia which is also called the tussah silk is copperish in color and has a coarse silk material that is generated from these silkworms. In India, there are mainly four types of silk available which are mulberry, tasar, Muga, and eri. The silkworms are reared for the purpose of their fibers and the rearing of them is known as sericulture.