Tasar Silk Cocoon Collection — Wild Silk of Odisha

The tasar silkworm (Antheraea mylitta) is a wild silkworm found in the warm, humid forests of India, belonging to the Saturniidae family. Unlike the mulberry silkworm (Bombyx mori), it is not domesticated — it lives and feeds on leaves of forest trees. Tasar silk is golden-brown in color with thicker, stronger thread than mulberry silk. India is the world's only major tasar producer — approximately 2,500 metric tons annually. Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, West Bengal, and Madhya Pradesh are the principal producing states.

Tasar silkworms are primarily reared on two types of trees: Asan (Terminalia tomentosa) and Arjun (Terminalia arjuna). Asan is common in Odisha's dry deciduous forests — it grows 20-30 meters tall with broad, rough leaves and dark brown cracked bark. Arjun grows along riverbanks and moist areas with whitish-green bark that peels in layers. Arjun-reared silkworms produce better quality silk. Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar, Sundargarh, Sambalpur, and Deogarh districts of Odisha are famous for tasar production.

Tasar silk has two crops per year. First crop: July-September — larvae feed on new monsoon foliage and spin cocoons in 40-50 days. Second crop: October-December — cocoons mature during winter; these are generally larger and better quality. Wait 10-15 days after larvae finish spinning before collecting, allowing the pupa to form properly inside.

Prepare essential equipment for forest cocoon collection. Use bamboo ladders or long bamboo poles with hooks for reaching high branches. Use ventilated bamboo baskets (dali) — never plastic bags, which trap moisture and spoil cocoons. Wear tall boots and thick clothing for protection against snakes and insects in the forest.

Tasar cocoons hang among tree branches and leaves. The silkworm wraps one or two leaves with silk thread and spins its cocoon inside. These leaf-wrapped cocoons are firmly attached to branches by silk peduncles — they do not fall even in strong winds. Cocoons are typically 4-6 cm long and oval-shaped, golden-brown in color. More cocoons are found on middle and lower branches. Golden cocoons are most visible in morning sunlight.

Identifying live versus dead cocoons during collection is crucial. Live cocoons contain a living pupa: slight movement felt when gently shaken, heavier weight, and no emergence hole. Dead cocoons have a dead pupa or the moth has already emerged: lightweight, dry, with an emergence hole visible. Live cocoons must be preserved for breeding. Dead or stifled cocoons are used for reeling (thread extraction).

Handle cocoons very carefully — pulling hard breaks the thread and reduces reeling quality. Use pruning shears to cut cocoons with a small branch piece (keeping the peduncle intact). Do not squeeze cocoons — the pupa inside can be damaged. For high branches, use bamboo pole hooks to bend branches down and cut with shears. Place collected cocoons in bamboo baskets immediately — arrange in a single layer, do not pile up.

Select the best quality live cocoons for breeding — large, heavy, flawless shape — which improves the next generation's quality. Typically 20-30% of collected cocoons are kept for breeding. Store these in cool, shaded, well-ventilated areas on bamboo mats. When moths emerge, males and females mate and lay eggs — these are the foundation for the next crop.

Cocoons selected for reeling must have the pupa killed — otherwise the moth will emerge and tear through the cocoon, breaking the thread. This is called stifling. The traditional Odisha method is sun drying for 2-3 days. Spread cocoons in a single layer on bamboo mats in direct sunlight. The pupa dies at temperatures above 60 degrees Celsius. Cover at night to prevent moisture absorption.

Grade stifled cocoons by quality. Criteria: Size — large cocoons (4.5-6 cm) yield more thread. Color — bright golden is best, dark brown is lower quality. Shape — uniform oval is good, deformed shapes cause reeling problems. Shell ratio — shell (outer covering) weight should be 12-15% of total cocoon weight. Grade A: large, golden, well-shaped. Grade B: medium size, average color. Grade C: small, stained, or deformed.

Improper storage causes mold and insect attack. Storage rules: dry, cool, well-ventilated warehouse. Keep humidity below 65%. Store in jute bags on bamboo racks — never use plastic bags. Place dried neem leaves inside bags to repel Dermestes beetles — a traditional and effective method. Inspect cocoons weekly — isolate any showing mold or insect damage immediately.

Record detailed data for each collection session: date, location, host tree type (Asan/Arjun), total cocoon count, grade-wise breakdown, live and dead counts. Odisha tasar cocoons are sold through Central Silk Board cocoon markets — mainly at Baripada (Mayurbhanj) and Bhubaneswar. Prices vary by quality — Grade A cocoons fetch 800-1,200 rupees per kg. Registering with the Directorate of Textiles, Odisha simplifies the sales process.