silkworms

Silkworms are the larval stages of silk moths, most commonly the domesticated species Bombyx mori. They are raised in sericulture to produce silk fibers, which are spun as they mature into cocoons.

In their life cycle, silkworms begin as eggs laid by adult moths. The eggs hatch into caterpillars that feed almost exclusively on mulberry leaves. After several molts, the larva secretes a continuous filament that hardens into a cocoon around itself. Inside the cocoon, the larva develops into a pupa and later emerges as an adult moth. In commercial silk production, cocoons are often harvested before the moth emerges to preserve the integrity of the fiber; sometimes the pupae are killed or boiled to unwind the silk more easily.

Domestication and history: Bombyx mori was domesticated in China, with selective breeding shaping traits suited to large-scale silk production. The domesticated silkworm is highly dependent on humans for food, environment, and breeding, and it has little tolerance for wild conditions. The silk trade historically linked Asia with Europe and other regions along the Silk Road, profoundly shaping economies and cultures.

Fiber and production: The silk filament is produced by the larval salivary glands and can be up to several hundred meters long per cocoon. The cocoon is primarily composed of fibroin fibers coated with sericin, a gummy protein that binds the filament. Cocoons from multiple larvae are reeled into raw silk or processed into different forms.

Other silk moths, such as Antheraea species, produce wild or tussah silks, which are generally coarser and more textured. Silkworm cultivation requires controlled temperature, humidity, and mulberry leaf supply to maintain healthy silkworms and steady silk yields.