Detailed Explanation of Key Technical Points and Management Methods for Silkworm Rearing

I. Incubation Supplementation and Silkworm Collection Currently, all silkworm eggs used for producing raw silk cocoons are binary hybrids or multi-line hybrids, and the technical handling is roughly the same. Proper protection of silkworm eggs and the use of appropriate collection methods have a great effect on the growth and development of silkworms.

1 Receiving eggs: It is best to do this in the early morning or evening when the temperature is lower. During this period, avoid direct sunlight or rain, pay attention to ventilation, and never stack or press them.

2 Incubation supplementation of silkworm eggs: After the silkworm eggs are received from the silkworm egg farm or station, they must continue to be protected in a suitable environment, with temperature, humidity, and light controlled to promote the smooth development of the silkworm embryo to hatching; this process is called "incubation supplementation." Usually, the following points should be noted: (1) Temperature and humidity regulation: If the temperature and humidity are too high or too low, it will affect the vitality and hatching rate of the silkworm eggs. Usually, the temperature is controlled at 28 plus or minus 1 degrees C, and the dry-bulb and wet-bulb difference is 1 to 2 degrees C. (2) Air exchange and egg turning: Turn the eggs front and back, up and down, and left and right 1 to 2 times a day, especially when the number of eggs being incubated is large, so as to facilitate respiration of the silkworm eggs and even development. (3) Darkening: In the later stage of embryo development in the silkworm eggs, that is, after the eggs are taken out of cold storage and protected at normal temperature for 7 to 8 days, a blue-green spot appears at one end of the egg, called "point blue." Subsequently, the surface of the silkworm egg turns gray, commonly known as "turning dark." At this time, cover the silkworm eggs with lettuce and then wrap them with clean, disinfected black cloth, keeping the black cloth moist until 5 to 6 a.m. the next morning, when it is opened for light exposure.

3 Silkworm collection: The process of collecting newly hatched ant silkworms onto the rearing bed for feeding and arranging the whole bed is called silkworm collection, commonly known as "leading the silkworms." At 6 to 7 a.m., open the darkened silkworm eggs and expose them to light with a lamp, and collect the silkworms at 9 to 10 a.m. If hatching is uneven, after collection, darken them again and collect again the next morning. Silkworm eggs in Guangdong are basically flat-mounted eggs, and there are two collection methods: the mulberry lure method and the knocking-off method. (1) Mulberry lure method: Place the silkworm eggs on bed paper. After 2 to 3 hours of light exposure, evenly sprinkle mulberry leaves cut into shreds or squares onto the egg paper. After about 30 minutes, the ant silkworms crawl onto the mulberry leaves. Then turn the egg paper over, sweep the mulberry leaves together with the ant silkworms onto the bed paper, arrange them evenly, and then add more mulberry leaves. Alternatively, first evenly sprinkle mulberry leaves onto the bed paper over an area slightly larger than the egg paper, then place the light-exposed egg paper upside down on the surface of the mulberry leaves. After 30 minutes, the ant silkworms crawl onto the mulberry leaves. Lift the egg paper, then evenly distribute and arrange the bed and add more mulberry leaves. (2) Knocking-off method: Hold the edges of the egg paper with both hands, with the silkworm eggs facing downward, and another person taps the back of the egg paper with silkworm chopsticks to shake the ant silkworms down onto the bed paper, then feed mulberry leaves, and then evenly distribute, arrange the bed, and add more mulberry leaves. After arranging the bed and adding mulberry leaves, cover with nylon film, then put it back on the rearing rack for normal rearing.