Antheraea assamensis

Antheraea assamensis
Antheraea assamensis
Antheraea assamensis, male. Borneo
Caterpillars
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Saturniidae
Tribe: Saturniini
Genus: Antheraea
Species: A. assamensis
Binomial name
Antheraea assamensis
Helfer, 1837
Synonyms
  • Antheraea brunnea
  • Antheraea youngi
  • Antheraea perotteti
  • Saturnia assama
  • Antheraea assama
  • Antheraea mezankooria
  • Antheraea brunnea subvelata
  • Antheraea assamensis mezops
  • Antheraea assamensis rubigenea

The Muga Silkworm is the larva of the Assam Silkmoth (Antheraea assamensis), a moth of the Saturniidae family. It is found in India (namely Assam), Burma and Sundaland.

The larva feed on Cinnamomum, Laurus, Litsea, Carpinus, Persea, Magnolia, Michelia, Quercus, Sarcostemma and Symplocos.

Its silk has a beautiful glossy golden hue which improves with age and washing. Is never bleached or dyed and is stain resistant. Was reserved for the exclusive use of royal families in Assam for 600 years. Like other silkmoths, the female have a larger abdomen and slender antennae when compared to males. The larvae are vibrantly coloured and are monophagus as other silkmoths .[1][2]

References

  1. ^ "Organic_Clothing: Raw & Organic Silk: Facts behind the Fibers". Organicclothing.blogs.com. 2007-03-06. http://organicclothing.blogs.com/my_weblog/2007/03/raw_organic_sil.html. Retrieved 2011-10-18. 
  2. ^ "CHAPTER 9". Fao.org. http://www.fao.org/docrep/005/y4351e/y4351e0d.htm. Retrieved 2011-10-18. 
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