Monographs on the tusser and other wild silks of India, descriptive of the objects and specimens exhibited in the India section of the Paris Exhibition : and on the dyestuffs and tannin matters of India and their native uses, descriptive of the collection in the India section of the Paris Exhibition / by Thomas Wardle, F.C.S., F.G.S., member of jury, class 34.

  • Wardle, Thomas, Sir, 1831-1909
Date:
1878
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Monographs on the tusser and other wild silks of India, descriptive of the objects and specimens exhibited in the India section of the Paris Exhibition : and on the dyestuffs and tannin matters of India and their native uses, descriptive of the collection in the India section of the Paris Exhibition / by Thomas Wardle, F.C.S., F.G.S., member of jury, class 34. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    12/62 (page 4)
    The larvae, when fully grown, are about four inches in length » they have twelve joints or articulations, besides their extremities > their colour is green resembling the leaves on which they feed ; and they are marked with reddish spots and a reddish yellow band running lengthways. They feed on several plants :— Rhizophora calceolaris. Linn. Terminalia alata glabra (Assum tree). Terminalia tomentosa (the Saj tree). Terminalia Catappa (Country Almond tree Tectona grandis. (Teak tree.) Zizyphus jujuba. (Ber tree.) Shorea robusta. (Sal tree.) Bombax heptaphyllum. (Semul.) Careya sphaerica. Pentaptera tomentosa. Pentaptera glabra. Ricinus communis (Castor oil plant). Cassia lanceolata. In six weeks from the time they are hatched they begin to spin their cocoons, which they most curiously suspend from the branches of the trees by constructing a thick hard cord or filament of silky matter, which is made to grasp the branches, as seen in the specimens No. 3. As soon as the worm has spun its cocoon it takes the form of chrysalis or pupa (see No. 2), and remains a prisoner in the cocoons for about nine months, or from October until July. At the end of this time the chrysalis takes the form of a moth, and whilst its wings are in an imperfectly developed state it softens one end of the cocoons with an exudation which enables it to separate the filaments of silk and to work its way out of the cocoon. This it effects during the night. Those shown under No. 4 are cocoons from which the moth has emerged. No. 5. Tusser cocoons from Sambulpur, in the Central Provinces, but larger than those under No. 3. The weight of the ordinary Tusser cocoon with its pupa enclosed and the cord by which it is attached to the branch is about five grammes. Nos. 6 and 7. Are specimens of Tusser moths known under the following names:— Antherea Paphia (Linnaeus). Bombyx „ (Hiibner). Saturnia „ (Heifer). Phalaena Attacus Mylitta (Durmy). „ Paphia (Roxburgh). Bombyx Mylitta (Fabricius). << Bughy ” of the native of Burbhoon Hills where the silk (which the same people call “ Tusseh ”) is manufactured.