Question

Morus alba is the predominant food plant of:

• A. Bombyx mori
• B. Antheraea mylitta
• C. Antheraea royeli
• D. Antheraea pernyi

Hint:

The mulberry silkworm, Bombyx mori, is an obligate feeder on mulberry leaves (Morus alba), which contains phagostimulants that trigger larval feeding.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
Sericulture is the commercial rearing of silkworms to produce silk.
Different silkworm species are monophagous or polyphagous and feed on specific host plants.

Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
- {Morus alba is the scientific name of the white mulberry plant.
- The domesticated mulberry silkworm, {Bombyx mori, is a monophagous insect that feeds exclusively on the leaves of Morus alba (and closely related Morus species) to obtain the nutrients needed for growth and silk synthesis.
- Other silkworm species, such as Antheraea mylitta (Tasar silkworm), are wild species that feed on non-mulberry plants like Asan (Terminalia tomentosa) and Arjun (Terminalia arjuna).
- Antheraea royeli and Antheraea pernyi (oak tasar silkworms) feed predominantly on oak (Quercus species) leaves.
Therefore, Morus alba is the primary food plant of Bombyx mori.

Step 3: Final Answer
The correct option is (A).