Silk Worms Uses and its Types

Silk is another valuable product from the insect world. The silk is obtained as fine threads from the cocoons of various species of silkworms.

Sericulture is the scientific management of production and marketing of natural silk from silkworms

Types of Silk worms:

Mulberry silkworm – Bombyxi Mori
Tasar Silk worm : Antheraea paphia
Muga Silk worm: Antheraea assamensis
Eri Silk worm : Attacus ricinii

1. Mulberry silkworm – Bombyx mori : This is a completely domesticated insect. Since the natural food of this worm is mulberry leaves, it is called mulberry silk worm. The silk produced by this moth is white in colour. It is called the mulberry silk.
2. Tasar Silk worm : Antheraea paphia: This caterpillar feeds on ber, oak, sal and fig plants. The cocoon produced by this worm is smooth and hard. It is of hen’s egg size. The cocoon yields reelable, brown coloured Tasar silk.
3. Muga Silk worm: Antheraea assamensis: The native place of this species is Assam where it has now become a good source of cottage industry. The silk produced by this moth is known as Muga silk.
4. Eri Silk worm : Attacus ricinii The caterpillar of this worm feeds on castor leaves. The cocoons of this worm have very loose texture and the silk produced is called as Arandi silk locally. The threads are not glossy but much durable

Sericulture of Silk Worm:

The sericulture plays a significant role in the rural economy of our country. The Chinese have the credit of discovering silk. It was kept as a secret for several centuries. India now occupies a unique position in the world for its rich sericigenous fauna to produce pure mulberry silk as well as the three other varieties of non-mulberry silks.

Uses of silk:

The raw silk is used in the manufacture of woven materials, knitted fabrics and garments. It is also used in parachutes, parachute cords, fishing lines, as sieves in flour mills, insulation coil for telephones and wireless receivers, and tyres of racing cars.

How silk is made from silk worms:

The process of silk production is known as sericulture. Mining raw silk twitches by humanizing the silkworms on mulberry leaves and worms start pupating in their cocoons and then these are dissolved in hot boiling water in order for individual long fibres to be extracted and fed into the spinning reel.

Are silkworms killed to make silk

Silk worms don’t live past this stage because they are boiled inside their cocoons and begin unscrambling or separating to obtain silk.

How many silkworms to make 1kg of Silk

Nearly around 6700 silk worms  are killed to make 1kg of Silk.

What Does Silk Worm Eat

Silkworm eats only mulberry leaves.

Do silk worm lay eggs?

Yes they do lay eggs and they are farmed as well for eggs to obtain the process of silk from silk worm from farms.