Different species of silk worm and sericulture.

Different species of silk worm and sericulture.

• The experimental and systematic study on sericulture was started in Japan but the method of preparation of clothes from silk was developed in China.

• Now sericulture is the most important cottage industry in various countries.

• The silk producing insect is called Silk moths and  sericulture is the domestication and rearing of silk moths.

Read more about the Apiculture and Species of Honey bee

• There are a number of species of moth used in production of silk.

• Bombyx morai is Mulberry silkworm. Its native place is in China.

• The silk that is produced by this insect, white in colour. The natural food of this silkmoth is leaves of mulberry hence it is known as mulberry silk worm

• Antheraea paphia is Tasar silk worm found in India China and sri lanka.

• The larva of this silkmoth feed plant of oak, sal and fig, It produces Brown types of silk.

• The domestication of tasar silkworm is not easy that is the reason ,tasar silk industry has not reached up to more level .

• Antheraea assama is called muga silk worm. This silkworm is domesticated in India in Assam.

• The larva of this worm feeds on Machilus plant and silk is known as muga silk.

• Attacus ricini is an Eri silk worm. It provides good quality silk and is easily domesticated.

• It feeds on castor leaves. Its life cycle resembles a mulberry silk worm.

• Antheraea pernyi is found in China and Japan. It produces good quality silk.

• Attacus altas is Giant silkworm found in Malaysia and India. It is the longest silkworm up to 11 inches.

• The method of extraction of silk from cocoon  of silkworm includes stifling and reeling. The process of killing a cocoon in boiling water is called stifling. 

Read more about the Animals as source of Leather

• The killing of cocoons in boiling water makes silk soft and silk is separated in the thread easily. 

• The process of removing threads from a killed cocoon is called a reeling.