Silkworms are the larvae or caterpillars of a domesticated silkmoth. It is an important economic insect since it is the producer of silk. The silkworms have been used to make silk for over 4,000 years. The silk process first began in China, round about 2600 BC.
A silkworm's preferred food is white mulberry leaves, but it may also eat the leaves of the Osage Orange or the Tree of Heaven. It is entirely dependent on humans for its reproduction and no longer occurs naturally in the wild.
How do silkworms grow?
The chrysalis emerges from the cocoon as a moth. In cultivated silk, the grub is terminated while still inside the cocoon so that the long filaments are maintained.
Life cycle: The eggs develop into the silkworm lava, grub or caterpillar. They eat for 20-30 days, consuming large amounts of mulberry leaves. The caterpillar moults through four changes of skin
The silkworm spins a cocoon for protection, to permit the development of the pupa or chrysalis. The cocoon takes about three days to be fully complete and is a similar size to a peanut shell.
The chrysalis emerges from the cocoon as a moth. In cultivated silk, the grub is terminated while still inside the cocoon so that the long filaments are maintained.
The moths mate and the female can lay more than 350 eggs before they die. In the wild, a silkworm's lifecycle his cycle occurs once a year, but with the help of scientific breeding it can occur up to three times in a year to produce silk.
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