Important Diseases of Silkworm in West Bengal

Common diseases of silkworms in West Bengal are White Muscardine (fungal), Grasserie (viral) and Flacherie (viral and bacterial complex) and Protozoan disease Pebrine. Only pebrine is transovarial; hence it is most dangerous. But this disease incidence is now reduced after establishment of seed organization and systematic mother moth examination. All the above diseases are lethal and infectious. Preventive measures should be taken during silkworm rearing to avoid these diseases. In the present communication symptoms, causal organisms, route of infection and control measures of thse disease are discussed.