Eri silkworm, Philosamia ricini Boisduval is reared in Assam for its entomophagy and weaving of beautiful Endi silk, mostly by the tribal Assamese women in the rural areas [7, 4, 6]. The advantage of this insect is that it can be domesticated. Eri industry is an important cottage industry among villagers. The silkworm feeds on castor plants and on other alternative host plants, has medicinal values and is a source of other byproducts and it is a highly proteinaceous insect. It undergoes a holometabolic life cycle with stages viz., egg, larva, pupa and adult. As climate affects the biology of an insect, the life cycle in summer seasons is shorter compared to winter seasons. Genetic diversity reveals different eco races among Philosamia ricini. The races vary within the different regions and places within Assam. Eri silkworm is reared in a traditional and ecofriendly way. But this cottage industry is slowing down as large youths from the rural areas seek for other jobs rather than preserving the age old tradition. So to sustain the eri industry which is the need of the hour, new technologies should be initiated to uplift the rural livelihood as well as the economy of the country.