Author : Mohamed T. A. Eltayb and Talaat D. Abdel Magid

This study was conducted in Gedarif state, Sudan during the season 2009-2010.The aim of the study was to determine correlation between the eggs laid by the female of E. bauhiniae and the weight, length and girth of the cocoons (pupae) that the insect emerged from them. Laboratory study was done using a cage specially constructed for the study with four rooms to allow insect to emerge and deposit her eggs separately. i.e. four replicates were used. Statistic analysis was used for data to determine the significant difference. The result showed that the numbers of eggs laid by the insect are significantly associated with weight, Length and girth of the female cocoons. The high values of the measurements (weight, length and girth) were achieved which showed greatest potential of female in term of egg Laid.
This result reflects the positive correlation between the measurements of cocoons and fecundity of the emerged insect. The findings will pave the way for more investigation on egg production of this wild silk moth, as this study reported to be the first study, concerning with eggs of E. bauhiniae in Sudan as undomesticated insect which underlining length, weight and girth of cocoons to be good indictor to estimate female’s fecundity. The study concluded that, these factors should be looking after as important factors for any investment regarding egg production of E. bauhiniae, because this will be an augmentative for large scale investment of silk production in Sudan.

Key words: fecundity, cocoons, eggs, Epiphora bauhiniae, silkworm.

Article published in International Journal of  Advance Industrial  Engineering, Vol.1,No.1 (March- 2013)