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.
- 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.
- 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.
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