Silk moths in Madagascar: Biology, uses and challenges related to Borocera cajani (Boisduval, 1833) (Lepidoptera – Lasiocampidae)

Borocera cajani (Lepidoptera, Lasiocampidae), also named Landibe, is main wild silk moth currently used to produce silk textiles in Madagascar. Silk production involve many member of the local population, from the wild silk harvesters, to the spinners, traders, dyers, weavers and the artisans who transform the silk into clothing, accessories and decorative items. Uapaca bojeri (Tapia) forests are the last remnants of highland primary forest, which are threatened by human destruction through bush fires, firewood collection and charcoal production. Uapaca bojeri forest in the highland shelters wild Malagasy silkworms Borocera cajani and is the main host plant of this Lepidoptera species. Both this tree and Borocera cajani are endemic of Madagascar. Due to other-harvest of pupae and destruction of nature forest, wild silk production in those early sites has largely disappeared. Studing Borocera cajani’s biology and revitalize its silk constitute a way to conserve them