Silk moths in Madagascar: A review of biology, uses and challenges related to Borocera cajani (Vinson, 1863) (Lepidoptera: Lasiocampidae)

Abstract

Borocera cajani or "Landibe" (vernacular name) is the wild silk moth that is currently used to produce silk textiles in Madagascar. This species is endemic to Madagascar, and is distributed throughout the island, colonizing the Uapaca bojeri or "Tapia" forest of the central highlands. The forest provides food in the form of plants for B. cajani, including U. bojeri leaves. The species secretes silk at the onset of pupation and for making cocoons. Borocera cajani and its natural habitat are threatened by human destruction, such as bush fires, firewood collection, charcoal production, and the over-harvesting of their cocoons. Wild silk production largely disappeared when the silk industry utilized many people on the island as the collectors of cocoons, spinners, dyers, weavers, and artists who transform the silk into clothes, accessories, and objects. Therefore, it is important to study the biology of B. cajani to revitalize silk production in a way that helps conserve this species and the Tapia forest.

Keywords

• Borocera cajani
• Uapaca bojeri
• silk
• silk industry
• biodiversity
• Madagascar