Do you know how silk is obtained from silkworms? Let us learn the process in this blog. The rearing of silkworm for obtaining silk is called Sericulture. The moths are reared and their cocoons are gathered to get silk threads. A female silk moth lays hundreds of eggs which are then stored carefully on strips of cloth or paper.

The eggs are then sold to silkworm farmers who keep them under hygienic conditions at suitable conditions of temperature and humidity for the rearing of silkworm. Since the silkworms feed on mulberry leaves, the eggs are therefore warmed to a suitable temperature when the trees bear a fresh crop of leaves, so that the eggs hatch to produce larvae.

The larvae, also called the caterpillars or the silkworms are then stored in clean bamboo trays along with freshly chopped mulberry leaves. The caterpillars feed on these leaves day and night and grow enormously in size. Usually, after 25 to 30 days, the caterpillars stop feeding and move to a small chamber in the bamboo tray to spin cocoons.

The bamboo trays are also provided with small racks or twigs to which the cocoons get attached. The silk moth eventually develops inside these cocoons. The silk fibers are obtained from the cocoons and these fibers are ultimately spun and then woven into silk cloth by the weavers. China, which is also the country where silk was first discovered, leads the world in silk production.

Life Cycle of Silk moth

We know that wool and silk are two important animal fibers. Let us learn about �Silk- the queen of textiles� in this module. Silkworms spin the silk fibers and the rearing of silkworm for obtaining silk is referred to as Sericulture.

To understand the process of obtaining silk better, let us first know the interesting life history of the silk moth.

The female silk moth lays eggs that hatch to produce larvae or the caterpillars that are actually silkworms. After hatching, the tiny larvae grow in size and the caterpillar is now ready to enter the next stage of its life cycle- the pupa.

The caterpillar first weaves a net to hold itself and then it swings its head from side to side in the form of the figure of eight. This is the time when the silk fiber is generated. Actually, these movements of the head cause secretion of fiber made of a protein that hardens on exposure to air and becomes silk fiber.

The larva completely covers itself inside these fibers in order to pupate. This covering is known as a cocoon. The color of the cocoon varies, depending upon what the silkworm feeds on. It ranges from white to golden yellow.

The further development of the moth occurs inside the cocoon and finally the pupa metamorphoses into an adult moth. The silk fibers, thus produced, are used for weaving silk cloth. Now you know that silk yarn is obtained from the cocoon of the silk moth.

There are four different types of silk yarns of commercial importance which are obtained from different species of silkworms namely mulberry moth, Tasar moth, Munga moth, and the Kosa moth. Of these, the most common silk moth is the mulberry silk moth that produces the mulberry silk.

Read More- Wool Fibre: Wool Yielding Animals and Processing Fibres into Wool