Do Silkworms Have Males and Females? A Detailed Guide to Identifying Male and Female Silkworms
Silkworms are distinguished as male and female. To tell male from female silkworms, you can judge by the structure at the eighth and ninth abdominal segments. Female silkworms have four small transparent spots on the ventral surface of the eighth and ninth segments; male silkworms have one small transparent spot in the center of the ventral surface of the ninth segment.
Rearing techniques
1. Do a good job of disinfection before rearing silkworms to reduce the incidence of disease in the silkworms
In the central and western regions of China, local governments and farmers have limited financial resources, the planting and rearing methods are generally backward, and cocoon quality is relatively low. Cleaning and disinfection before rearing silkworms is the most important part of the entire disease prevention and disinfection work, and it is also a prerequisite for achieving high cocoon yields. To improve the disinfection effect, the disinfection steps should be “one sweep, two washes, three scrapings, four disinfections, five whitewashings”; during the disinfection process, six requirements must be met: the silkworm room must be swept clean, the silkworm tools must be washed clean, the chemicals must be mixed accurately, the solution must be sprayed evenly, the room and tools must be fully disinfected, and after disinfection they must be stored properly.
2. Do a good job of supplemental incubation to increase the one-day hatching rate
The quality of supplemental incubation work directly affects the level of the one-day hatching rate. Silkworm farmers should pay attention to supplemental incubation work, mainly focusing on measures such as controlling temperature and humidity and keeping the area dark. After the silkworm eggs arrive indoors, the eggs should be spread out promptly, and the temperature should be controlled at 78-79°F with a humidity difference of 2°F; by the evening of the day before collecting the newly hatched silkworms, raise the temperature to 80-81°F with a humidity difference of 1°F. At the same time, during supplemental incubation, strict darkening should be carried out to achieve uniform hatching.