A novel silkworm variety named “Wild Hybrid Complex 1” (WHC1) of the Sericultural Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (SRI-CAAS) was successfully reared in Ethiopia in the spring of 2014 on its first oversea habituation. Days ago, SRI-CAAS received a letter from Ethiopian institution who requests continued supply of WHC1 and technical support for development of sericulture in Ethiopia.

WHC1 is the result of a ten-year breeding effort of the research group headed by associate professor Yang-chun Wu. It is the first hybrid silkworm variety with both the wild silkworm and domestic silkworm as parents that have been approved by Silkworm Variety Evaluation Committee of Jiangsu Province in China.

Mr. Gang Pan, an associate professor who has recently come back after providing technical help in Ethiopia, introduced the details in Ethiopia. Ethiopia is located in the tropical zone with abundant rainfall. Average daytime temperature is maintained within 20~30 degrees centigrade, being very suitable for mulberry cultivation and silkworm rearing. In the past, Ethiopia had long been using silkworm varieties from India, Kenya, and Viet Nam etc. However, due to low moisture content in the air, mulberry leaves soon become dried after applying onto silkworm larvae, leading to reduced consumption of mulberry leaf by the larvae. Among various silkworm varieties brought from China to Ethiopia, WHC1 performed the best, showing excellent advantages over other varieties. WHC1 larvae are not only big eater (no waste leaf in rearing seat) but also polyphagous eater (no discrimination to old or tender leaf). The larvae are healthy and resistant to adverse environmental conditions, being suitable for rearing in easy handling pattern in Ethiopia. Nevertheless, WHC1 cocoons are snow white. One single cocoon weighs 2.5 gram, being two times to that of silkworm varieties imported from other countries and 1.3 times to that of common cocoons in China.

At the beginning, one Ethiopian technical worker was not convinced on good performance of Chinese silkworm varieties and showed some reluctance to rearing of WHC1. Later, after he saw WHC1 have high leaf consumption, healthy, and are resistant to diseases, being much better than silkworm varieties from other countries, he became very happy. Every day when he came to the rearing room and saw WHC1 larvae that have similar skin color with him, he kindly called them “my brother”. After that, he not only fully engaged himself in management of silkworm rearing but also actively collaborated with Chinese experts to train local sericultural workers.


As Mr. Pan briefed, the successful rearing of WHC1 has brought some kind of sensation in Ethiopia. Several Ethiopian medias reported this success. Many Ethiopian government officials came to inspect the rearing of WHC1 and given a high appraisal to the work done by Chinese experts. They hope the Chinese experts to continue to provide assistance in silkworm variety and rearing technology. They sincerely hope SRI-CAAS continue to help establish and develop silkworm rearing patterns that suit local climatic conditions in Ethiopia.