10 Interesting Silkworm Facts

If you are interested to know the caterpillar or larva of the Bombyx mori, you have to check Silkworm Facts.  This insect is very important in the commercial industry for it can produce silk. The word bombyx mori was taken from the Latin word. It means silkworm of the mulberry tree. Here are other interesting facts about silkworm for you:

Silkworm Facts 1: the wild and domestic silk moths

There are two types of silk moths. The commercial one is the domestic silk moths. Human being reproduces them by using the selective breeding. On the other hand, the wild silk moths are not used in the commercial production of silk. Their reproduction is not dependent on human being.  Find out insects facts here.

Silkworm Facts 2: the Chinese method of sericulture

The Chinese people have been performing the practice of breeding silkworms for more than 5,000 years.  The technique is called sericulture. It is used to produce the raw silk.

Silkworm Picture

Silkworm Facts 3: other countries and silkworm breeding system

The technique to breed silkworms from China also spreads to other countries in the world like in the West, India, Japan and Korea. Check flatworm facts here.

Silkworm Facts 4: the domesticated silkworms

The stock of domesticated silkworms is mostly from China. It can be derived from Bombyx mandarina or Bombyx mori.

Silkworm

Silkworm Facts 5: univoltine mulberry silkworms

The univoltine mulberry silkworms are found in greater Europe.  It can only produce silk once per year. In the spring season, the cross fertilize occurs on the silkworms. The hibernation of the eggs occurs during the cold season.

Silkworm Facts 6: bivoltine mulberry silkworms

The bivoltine mulberry silkworms can be found in Korea, China and Japan. Unlike the uniolvine which only breeds once in a year, the bivoltine type can breed twice a year.

Silkworms

Silkworm Facts 7: polyvoltine mulberry silkworms

The last type of mulberry silkworms is polyvoltine. You can find them living in the tropical regions. In a year, it can breed eight times. It will only need 9 to 12 days for the eggs to hatch.

Silkworm Facts 8: the cocoons

To create a pound of silk or 0.4 kilogram of silk, the producer will need around 2,000 to 3,000 cocoons.

Facts about Silkworm

Silkworm Facts 9: the production of silk

Silk is one of the important commodities in the commercial industries today. The producer needs around 10 billion pounds of cocoons to generate 70 million pounds of raw silk.

Silkworm Facts 10: dishes

Do you know that silkworm is eaten in several cultures in the world?  Tsukudani is the famous Japanese food made of boiled silkworm. It is mixed with sugar and soy sauce. In Korea, silkworm is made into beondegi.

Silkworm Facts

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