Mulberry Silkworm Ujifly, Exorista Bombycis (Louis) (Diptera: Tachinidae)

Abstract

Among several factors that influence silk yield, insect and non-insect pests form an important component. Of the insects that attack silkworm, the most important are the tachinid parasites which are commonly known as ujiflies. There are at least four species of ujifly that attack silkworms viz., Japanese ujifly, Crossocosmia sericariae (Rondani); Hime ujifly, Ctenophorocera pavida (Meigen); Tasar ujifly, Blepharipa zebina (Walker) and the Indian ujifly, Exorista bombycis (Louis). This review discusses distribution and history, taxonomy and bio-ecology of the ujifly. Among the different management practices used, cultural methods such as exclusion, i.e. fitting fly-proof wire mesh screens to the windows, ventilators and doors of rearing rooms and securing fly proof nylon net to individual trays, are found to be the most eco-friendly and economical. Other practices such as the use of hyper parasitoids, chemicals, chemosterilants, quarantine measures and lastly the integrated management practices have also been presented.