RAS question
Match the following types of silk with their source: 1. Mulberry silk A. Antheraea assamensis 2. Tasar (Tussar) silk B. Bombyx mori 3. Muga silk C. Philosamia ricini 4. Eri silk D. Antheraea mylitta. Correct match is:
Correct answer: (A) 1-B, 2-D, 3-A, 4-C.
The correct silk-source matching is Mulberry silk-Bombyx mori, Tasar silk-Antheraea mylitta, Muga silk-Antheraea assamensis, and Eri silk-Philosamia ricini.
Explanation
This is a direct species-identification question from sericulture. The Central Silk Board lists mulberry silkworm as Bombyx mori, tropical tasar silkworm as Antheraea mylitta, and eri silkworm as Philosamia ricini; its vanya silk page also states that muga silk is produced by Antheraea assamensis. That gives the sequence 1-B, 2-D, 3-A and 4-C. The logic is to separate mulberry from the three vanya or non-mulberry silks: tasar, muga and eri. The exam-relevant markers are: Bombyx mori is the fully domesticated mulberry silkworm, tasar is a wild silkworm silk, muga is Assam's golden silk, and eri is associated with cocoons that are not boiled.
Why the other options are wrong
- (B) It wrongly pairs mulberry silk with Antheraea assamensis, whereas mulberry silk comes from Bombyx mori and Antheraea assamensis is the muga silkworm.
- (C) It wrongly pairs tasar silk with Philosamia ricini, whereas tasar comes from Antheraea mylitta and Philosamia ricini is the eri silkworm.
- (D) It wrongly assigns Antheraea mylitta to mulberry silk, but Antheraea mylitta produces tropical tasar silk, while mulberry silk is from Bombyx mori.
Concept
The question tests economic geography through sericulture: matching commercially important silk varieties with their producing silkworm species. It recurs in RAS because silk links agriculture, forest-based livelihoods, regional specialisation and Indian industry.