Effect of Hydrocortisone on the Economic Parameters of the Domestic Silkworm, Bombyx mori L.

The effect of topical application with hydrocortisone on economic parameters was analysed following treatment of last larval stadium. The treated larvae showed a significant increase in larval weight at higher concentrations along with other enhanced larval, cocoon and adult parameters. This suggests that hydrocortisone can be used effectively for commercial silkworm rearing. The larvas period was significantly increased in all the treated groups with increased female cocoon weights, its shell weights and male cocoon shell weight at 20$\mu\textrm{g}$/ml treated group. Filament length, weight and denier were increased significantly in all the treated groups. Moth emergence percentage, length of the ovariole, eggs per ovariole, fecundity and rind hatching percentage were unaffected when compared with that of the carrier control group. This suggests that hydrocortisone in addition to affecting larval growths also affect silk crop.