Importance of Minerals in Silkworm Nutrition: A Review

The amount of silk produced by silkworms is influenced by several factors. The silkworm's nutrition is the most important element for good quality cocoon and silk production as it is dependent on the healthiness of the silkworm. Health, growth and resistance to biotic factors are directly dependent on the nutrition of the silkworm which is derived from the food. Consuming a well-balanced nutritious food is particularly important for silkworms, since they only consume throughout their larval period. Among the different nutritional requirements by the silkworm, minerals plays an important role. Minerals are not synthesized within insects, although they are essential elements and affect various metabolic processes. Minerals affect the growth and development of larva, economic cocoon characters and silk yield. Many functions of the neuromuscular, reproductive and hormonal systems among others can be efficiently controlled by adding micronutrients and trace elements such as minerals to the diet.