ISSN 2169-3048
International Journal of Biochemistry and Biotechnology ISSN 2169-3048 Vol. 15 (1), pp. 001-007, January, 2026. Available online at www.internationalscholarsjournals.org © International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
Impact of Methoprene and Fenoxycarb on the Commercial Traits and Fiber Quality of Bombyx mori (L) Cocoons
D. M. Mamatha1*, H. P. P. Cohly2, A. H. H. Raju1 and M. Rajeswara Rao1
1Division of Sericulture, Department of Zoology, S.V. University, Tirupati-517 502, A.P., India.
2Department of Surgery, University Medical Centre, Jackson M.S. 39216, U.S.A.
Accepted 10 July, 2025
Juvenile hormone analogues (JHA s) are known to prolong larval life in insects, and these have been tried for the improvement of silk production in the silkworm, Bombyx mori (L). In the cocoons and silk from 5th instar B. mori treated with selected doses of methoprene and fenoxycarb, quantitative parameters like cocoon weight, shell weight, shell percentage, filament length and denier followed by qualitative characters of the silk like non-breakable filament length, reelability, winding capacity, tenacity, elongation percentage, cohesiveness, sericin and fibroin contents were determined. The cocoon from 1.0 mg methoprene and 3.0 fg/larvae treated on days one and two showed improved quantitative characters of cocoons followed by qualitative characters of the silk over the control. The use of juvenile hormone like methprene and fenoxycarb during summer season will help to get improved cocoon yield.
Key words: Silkworm, methoprene, fenoxycarb, cocoons and silk.