Daily Utilization and Consumption of Dry Matter in Food by the Silkworm, Bombyx mori (Lepidoptera : Bombycidae)

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Abstract
Daily ultilization and consumption of dry matter in food by the silkworm, B. mori, were determined, and quantitative distribution of digested food into cocoon-shell, pupa, adult and eggs was estimated. The amounts of dry matter ingested and digested in the 4th and the 5th instars were 5.8 and 2.4 g for the male, and 6.6 and 2.8 g for the female, respectively. Digestibility was 42%. Dry matter gain in larva was 1.3 and 1.5 g for the male and the female, with a large part allocated to the silk glands. The dry matter utilization for tissues other than the silk glands was larger in the female than in the male. E.C.I. [efficiency of conversion of ingested dry matter] values for mature larva, pupa, adult and cocoon-shell were 22, 9, 5 and 11% in the male and 23, 11, 7 and 10% in the female, respectively. E.C.D. [efficiency of conversion of digested dry matter] values for mature larva, pupa, adult and cocoon-shell were 52, 21, 12 and 26% in the male and 53, 25, 17 and 24% in the female, respectively. Approximately 9% of the digested food was utilized for the formation of eggs. A larger amount of digested food was stored in the female body than in the male for egg production. The relative rates of ingestion, digestion and consumption were calculated.