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Diversity and Ecology of Wild Sericigenous Insects in Nagaland, India

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Diversity and Ecology of Wild Sericigenous Insects in Nagaland, India KAKATI & CHUTIA 137 Tropical Ecology 50 (1): 137-146, 2009 ISSN 0564-3295 © International Society for Tropical Ecology www.tropecol.com Diversity and ecology of wild sericigenous insects in Nagaland, India L.N. KAKATI* & B.C. CHUTIA Department of Zoology, Nagaland University, Head Quarters: Lumami, Mokokchung 798 601, Nagaland, India Abstract: This paper deals with the diversity of wild sericigenous insects i.e., silk producing moths in Nagaland, a small mountainous state of north eastern India. A periodic survey conducted during 2004-2006 revealed the presence of 14 species belonging to 8 genera i.e. Antheraea , Actias , Attacus , Archaeoattacus , Cricula , Loepa , Samia , Sonthonnaxia and a large number of host plants. However, only four species are commercially exploited in Nagaland at present and there remains a great scope for producing novel silk from Actias selene , Antheraea roylei , Samia canningi and Cricula trifenestrata . The egg, worm, cocoon and adult stages of certain species have been studied for character evaluation and categorization. The paper emphasizes the importance of these lesser known silk producing insects, causal factors for depletion of population density and advocates for great need for conservation of wild silk moths and their ecological environment in Nagaland. Further, the paper highlights the socioeconomic perspective of rearing and utilizing wild silk moths by the forest dwelling tribal people who could play a major role in conserving these insects and their habitats. Resumen: Este artículo trata de la diversidad de insectos sericígenos silvestres, es decir, de las polillas productoras de seda en Nagaland, un pequeño estado montañoso del nordeste de la India. Un muestreo periódico realizado durante 2004-2006 reveló la presencia de 14 especies pertenecientes a ocho géneros: Antheraea , Actias , Attacus , Archaeoattacus , Cricula , Loepa , Samia , Sonthonnaxia , y un número grande de plantas hospedadoras. Sin embargo, actualmente en Nagaland solamente se explotan comercialmente cuatro especies y existe un gran campo para la producción novedosa de seda de Actias selene , Antheraea roylei , Samia canningi y Cricula trifenestrata . Se estudiaron las etapas de huevo, gusano, crisálida y adulto de ciertas especies para evaluar y categorizar los caracteres. El artículo enfatiza la importancia de estos últimos insectos productores de seda menos conocidos y los factores causales de la reducción de la densidad poblacional, y aboga por la fuerte necesidad de conservar a las palomillas de seda silvestres y su ambiente ecológico en Nagaland. Además, el artículo resalta la perspectiva socioeconómica de criar y utilizar palomillas de seda silvestres por la gente de las tribus que habitan en el bosque, quienes podrían jugar un papel primordial en la conservación de estos insectos y de sus hábitats. Resumo : Este artigo trata da diversidade dos insectos seríceos selvagens i. e., mariposas produtoras de seda em Nagaland, um pequeno Estado montanhoso no nordeste da Índia. Um inventário periódico conduzido durante 2004-2006 revelou a presença de 14 espécies pertencentes a 8 géneros i. e. Antheraea , Actias , Attacus , Archaeoattacus , Cricula , Loepa , Samia , Sonthonnaxia e um número grande de plantas hospedeiras. Contudo, no presente, só quatro espécies são comercialmente exploradas em Nagaland e aí existe uma grande oportunidade para produzir nova seda de Actias selene , Antheraea roylei , Samia canningi e Cricula trifenestrata . O ovo, a lagarta, o casulo e os estágios adultos de certas espécies têm sido * Corresponding Author ; e-mail: [email protected] 138 WILD SERICIGENOUS INSECTS IN NAGALAND estudados quantos a caracteres de avaliação e categorização. O artigo enfatiza a importância destes insectos produtores de seda menos conhecidos, factores causais para depleção da densidade da população e advoga a grande necessidade de conservação de mariposas selvagens produtoras de seda e do seu ambiente ecológico em Nagaland. Além disso, o artigo dá realce à perspectiva socioeconómica de cultivo e utilização de seda selvagem pelas populações tribais habitantes da floresta e que podem jogar um papel principal na conservação destes insectos e dos seus habitats. Key words: Sericigenous insects, biodiversity, ecology, conservation, Nagaland. Introduction mulberry silk ( Bombyx mori Linn .) (Peigler & Naumann 2003). However, the diversity of wild Seri-biodiversity refers the variability in sericigenous insects in the region is not fully sericigenous or silk producing insects and their understood. Given the rapid transformation of host plants (Srivastava & Thangavelu 2005). Non- original vegetation due to intensive land use mulberry silk moths are wild or semi-domesticated practices, it is pertinent to characterize, classify, “charismatic fauna” which produce lustrous silk and document the status of these precious faunal and exhibit a great range of variation in life species in the region. While a few survey reports on history from egg to adult with characteristically wild sericigenous insects in the North-Eastern India different physiological, morphological and feeding are available (Bhattacharya & Teotia 1998; parameters. Fairly good numbers of references are Bhattacharya et al. 2004; Thangavelu & Borah on record about seri-biodiversity and their 1986; Thangavelu et al . 1987), overall diversity and potential as a source of natural silk in Indian distribution pattern of wild silk moths in the state subcontinent (Arora & Gupta 1979; Chinnaswamy of Nagaland are generally lacking. Singh & 2001; Nassig et al .1996; Srivastava & Thangavelu Chakravorty (2006) enlisted 24 species of the family 2005; Thangavelu 1991; Thangavelu et al . 2002). Saturniidae from North East India, including three Arora & Gupta (1979) estimated as many as 40 species of wild silk moths viz ., Antheraea species in India alone. Jolly et al . (1975) reported assamensis, Antheraea roylei and Attacus atlas from about 80 species occurring in Asia and Africa to Nagaland. But there is no published account on produce wild silk of economic value. Nassig et al. their host plants and life-cycle. Hence a detailed (1996) has mentioned that the family Saturniidae survey of wild sericigenous insects was conducted in comprises of about 1200-1500 species all over the the state of Nagaland. Major findings of this study world of which the Indian sub-continent, extending are presented in this paper. from Himalayas to Sri Lanka may possess over 50 species. According to the classification of Lemaire Study area & Minet (1998) it is the largest family of Bombycoidea sensu stricto , containing about 1861 Nagaland forms the easternmost state of species in 162 genera and 9 subfamilies. The Indian Republic, located between 25°26 ′- 27°40 ′N saturniids which include some of the largest and latitudes and 93°20 ′ - 95°15 ′E longitudes. It most spectacular species of all Lepidoptera are constitutes a part of Indo-Burmese biodiversity univoltine to multivoltine depending upon the hotspot. The state has an area of 16,579 km 2 and it climatic conditions and are distributed in both is bounded by Arunachal Pradesh in North, temperate and tropical region (Regier et al. 2008). Manipur in South, Myanmar in East and Assam in The North-Eastern region of India makes ideal West. The topography of the state is character- home for a number of wild sericigenous insects and istically hilly, at places exhibiting rugged terrain is centre of wild silk culture including muga broken by deep gorges and steep slopes. The (Antheraea assamensis Helfer), eri ( Samia ricini altitude varies from 199 to 3841 m above mean sea Donovan), oak tasar ( Antheraea proylei Jolly ) and level. Climate is humid sub-tropical to warm KAKATI & CHUTIA 139 temperate. The mean annual rainfall is ca 2600 socioeconomic upliftment and forest conservation. mm, with a prolonged rainy season from May to Eri culture has been practiced since time October. The temperature ranges from 12 to 32 oC immemorial by different tribes and sub tribes in in summer and 5 to 20 oC in winter and average both the plains and the hills of Nagaland. It is relative humidity varies from 67% (March) to 88% mainly done domestically for eri pupae (October). Some of the meteoro-logical data viz ., consumption since the pupae have a high protein temperature, relative humidity, rainfall and value and oil. The silk layer is used for production number of rainy days collected during the study of spurn yarn. While rearing of mulberry silk period from an experimental site i.e. Mokokchung worm is also practiced in different parts of the (26°17 ′N latitude and 94°18 ′E longitude, 1325 m state, muga culture is new to the state and not yet altitude) are shown in Table 1. The forest cover in popular which may be due to a lack of proper the state is about 52% (8,62,930 ha including training at the grass root level. Further, inspite of 1,00,823 ha of government and 7,62,107 ha of having one research extension centre, the growth private forests) of the total geographical area of and development of oak tasar culture is not 16,57,583 ha. Out of the total forest cover 55.4% is encouraging; particularly due to inadequate supply virgin forest, 32.9% is degraded forest and the rest of diseased free laying (dfl) at the farmers level of 11.7% belongs to other category. Despite being (Kakati 2006). However, in recent years Govt. of the small state, it possesses variety of forest types Nagaland has imparted sericulture training to like tropical wet evergreen forests, tropical semi farmers and brought about 4148 hectares of evergreen forests and sub-tropical broad-leaf wet degraded/waste land under plantation of host hill forests distributed throughout the state. The plants of different commercially important silk rich floristic diversity of the state is represented by worm group (Source: Director of Sericulture, 2,431 species of angiosperm and 9 species of Government of Nagaland 2007). gymnosperm. Nagaland boasts of the tallest rhododendron and the tallest rice plant in the Materials and methods Guinness Book of world records. Besides the state is the repository of herbal medicinal and aromatic Extensive surveys were conducted throughout plants and rare orchids.
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