Life Cycle of a Silkmoth

Silk is harvested from the cocoon of the silkmoth caterpillar, also known as the silkworm or bombyx mori. Due to over-domestication, the silkmoth is no longer able to survive in its natural habitat.

  1. History

    • Silk has been harvested from the cocoons of the silkmoth for thousands of years by the Chinese. Due to the intensive farming of these insects, the adult moth has evolved with a grossly fat body and tiny wings, meaning it is no longer able to fly.

    Silk Harvest

    • The silkworm secretes a single protein strand from glands on its head to form a cocoon or chrysalis, which protects the insect during the transition from caterpillar to moth. The protein strand is silk. Silk farmers boil the cocoon in water to kill the pupa and help to unravel the silk strand. The single silk strand from a cocoon measures 985 feet to 2,953 feet.

    Larvae

    • Larvae emerge from clutches of small black eggs. Growing larvae eat vast quantities of mulberry leaves. The larvae grow rapidly, shedding skin five times, until they are 3 inches long.

    Pupa

    • At 3 inches long, the caterpillar forms a cocoon. Spinning the cocoon around itself can take three to four days.

    Mature Moth

    • The adult silkmoth emerges from the cocoon after three weeks. An adult silkmoth lives for four to six days. During this period, the female lays up to 500 eggs which hatch after 10 to 14 days.