Source: Roz Dhan ("Ronon Varghese")
Silk is obtained from the insect silkworm. It's scientific name is Bombyx Mori. It was invented in China. Silk is a protein fiber which is produced by the larvae of the silkworm. Their are total 4 different types of silk produced.Mulberry silk , Tasar silk, Muga silk, and Eri silk.
Each time the female silkworm reproduces it insulates up to 300-400 eggs on a single mulberry tree. After 10-12 days each egg produces a larvae or a caterpillar, and after that in 30-40 days each caterpillar eats and growth takes place.Now when it is fully grown it chooses a place and spins its head around itself completely for 3-4 days and forms a single long thread around it or a protective shell around it. After it finishes, when it comes in contact with the air it solidifies and makes a 1000 metre long thread and this larvae is converted into a pupa.
credit: third party image reference
It usually forms the pupa in the beginning of winter and it stays in its cocoon the whole winter season
to protect itself from the harsh and bad climate.It stays and sleeps in it's protective shell for the whole winter which is often referred to as it's sleeping stage. After the winter it breaks the outer shell and comes out as a grown version of the larvae with wings known as the silk moth.
credit: third party image reference
When the silkworm cuts the cocoon by alkaline secretion the cocoon is broken down into many pieces which is why we cannot wait for it to get out to obtain silk. To obtain silk we need to put the cocoon into boiling water so that the worm dies and the silk thread is separated from the silkworm. This is how silk is obtained . Then it is sold and made clothes out of it and manufactured etc.
The process of growing silkworms to produce eggs to continue the process is known as sericulture.
Thank you for reading this article.
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