Grasping "Five Preventions"
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In order to ensure healthy silkworm development, it's essential to implement the "five preventions" due to the challenges posed by high temperatures, pathogen exposure, rapid pest multiplication, and pesticide contamination. These preventive measures are crucial for maintaining optimal conditions and maximizing cocoon production. Here’s a detailed breakdown:
1. **Prevent High Temperatures**: Silkworms thrive best at 24°C to 27°C. However, during late June to mid-July, indoor temperatures often rise above 30°C, which can negatively impact their growth. To counter this, create a favorable microclimate by using a trampoline for cooling during the first three instars. After feeding, close doors and windows to block hot air. Additionally, use pergolas, cover the roof with grass, or spray well water indoors while using fans to circulate cool air.
2. **Prevent Hunger**: High temperatures accelerate silkworm growth, so it's important to increase either the quantity or frequency of mulberry leaf feedings. This helps maintain consistent nutrition and supports faster development, ultimately leading to higher cocoon yields.
3. **Prevent Disease**: Before rearing silkworms, thorough disinfection is necessary. After sterilization, silkworms should be exposed for 3–4 days to eliminate any remaining pathogens. During the rearing period, regularly apply fresh lime powder or disease prevention agent No. 1. If needed, add chloramphenicol or gram insecticides to control bacterial infections. Avoid feeding wet leaves to prevent the spread of viral and bacterial diseases.
4. **Pest Control**: About 4–5 days before raising silkworms, spray a 25% dimethoate emulsion diluted 1500 times on the opposite side of the mulberry leaves to kill red spiders. Use an 80% dichlorvos emulsion diluted 2000 times and spray twice to eliminate mulberry aphids. This ensures clean, high-quality leaves and reduces the risk of cross-infection.
5. **Prevent Pesticide Poisoning**: When applying pesticides in nearby fields, pay attention to wind direction to avoid contaminating mulberry leaves. Avoid using insecticides near silkworm areas. If in doubt, test feed a small portion of the leaves first to confirm they are safe. In case of poisoning, remove the silkworms immediately, feed them fresh, non-toxic mulberry leaves, or spray the leaves with 1% lime water or 500-times diluted adrenaline to help detoxify them.
By following these five key strategies, farmers can significantly improve silkworm health, reduce losses, and achieve better economic returns from their silkworm farming operations.