Research Journal of Agricultural Sciences
An International Journal
An investigation was carried out in Mandya district of Karnataka, India, to know the status of knowledge among the silkworm rearers in management of the Uzi fly, Exorista bombycis [Louis], a serious endo-parasitoid of the silkworm, Bombyx mori L. The knowledge level of silkworm rearers in respect of management of Uzi fly has been classified into full, partial and no knowledge among three categories of farmers [small, medium and big] based on their size of mulberry land holding. The silkworm rearers were assessed for their knowledge on exclusion, physical, chemical, biological and post-spinning activities. In exclusion method, full knowledge was noticed in practices such as using an ante room [44%] and manual killing of Uzi fly [100%], while partial knowledge was observed in individual tray cover with nylon net [61%] and provide doors with automatic closing mechanism [45%]. Regarding physical method, full knowledge was evident in Uzi trap [61%] and light cum sticky trap [39%], partial knowledge was observed in kerosene water trap [59%] and lack of knowledge in food bait trap [70%] and levigated China clay [65%]. In chemical method, majority of the silkworm rearers possess full knowledge on quantity of chemicals [51%], partial knowledge on the use of Uzicide [41%] and Uzi powder [50%] and no knowledge regarding the use of bleaching powder solution [38%]. In biological method, large group of silkworm rearers possess full knowledge on releasing Uzi parasitoids like Nesolynx thymus [40%], but there was no knowledge on the quantity of Uzi parasitoids release [44%]. In respect of post-spinning activities, all the silkworm rearers knew how to dispose silkworm litter, partial knowledge in destroying Uzi maggots/pupae [40%] and disposing of Uzi-infested cocoons [44%].
Research Article | Published online : 20-Apr-2024