Sericulture we also called as silk production is the breeding and management of silk worms for the commercial production of silk.
Sericulture is an important industry in Japan, China, India, Italy, France and Spain. 35.3.1 Brief History
Sericulture or silk production from the moth Bombyx mori had a long and also a colourful history unknown to most of the people. This insect is the only of the living species of family Bombycidae and has been domesticated for so long that it is possible that there are no survivors in the wild any longer.
the cocoon. Silk industry began in China where the source of silk was kept a secret for more than 2000 years. After some time, China lost their monopoly in silk production or sericulture reached and active Japan through Korea and then to other countries. Sericulture has been growing in India as an agro-based industry playing a vital role in the improvement of rural economy.
35.3.2 Source of silk - The silkworm
The silkworm is the larva or the caterpillar of the moth Bombyx mori (popularly called the silk moth) the total life history of the moth (from egg to adult take 50 days. The different stages are as follows:
(l) Egg
10 days
(ii)Larva (4 Stages)
30 days
(iii)Pupa (Cocoon)
10 days
(i)
Adult
The adult silk moth is a creamy white moth that has a flat body and a wing expanse of length about 5 cms. It do not eatfood and it takes no seldom attempts to fly. It lives for only 2 to 3 days. After mating, the female moth lays 300-500 eggs on leaves of the mulberry tree.
(ii)
Eggs
The eggs are round in shape and yellowish-white in colour and they become grey as hatching time approaches.
(iii)
Larvae
The newly hatched larva is length about three milli metres long and somewhat black in colour.
The larvae grow in size and shed their skin (moult) four times. Each growing stage of the caterpillar consumes lot of mulberry leaves.
The last stage full grown larva is about 7 cm long. It has a hump behind the head and a spine-like horn at the tail end.
When it was fully grown, the mature larva stops the feeding, climbs on a twig and spins a cocoon.
(iv)
Pupa
The full grown larva pupates it self inside the cocoon
In about 10 days time it transforms into a winged adult. The adult moth makes an opening in the cocoon
and escapes through it.