Silkworm

Bombyx Mori 

Pure or raw silk is obtained from cocoons or insect belonging to the ordeLepidoptera. They are popularly

 known as silkworm or silkmoths. The most common silkworm is Bombyx Mori. Form the commercial point of view, it is the most important insect in the world, and huge industries have centred around the silkworm for many centuries.

• Habits and Habitat
•      Silkworm has been domesticated for so long that it can no longer survive in nature without human care . The original stock probably no longer exists. As a result of domestication for centuries and continued selection for certain qualities, the present day silkmoth is far from resembling it's ancient ancestors. The adult silk moths can no longer fly due to heavy body and feeble wings. The larvae have lost the capacity to search food and will starve uncleu the food is placed right near them. They are reared in domestication on a site of mulberry leaves . But , the adult moth does not feed during its short span of 4 to 5 days only. Commercial silk is secreted by the silk glands of larvae.
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• External Features  

Adult silkmoth is a medium sized insect, about 25 mm long and with span of 40- 50 mm. Body is robust , creamy-white or yellow in colour , and divided into usual 3 regions: head , thorax and abdomen. Head is a small and bear a pair of compound eye, a pair of branches or plumed antennae , and degenerate siphonons mouth parts. Throat bear 3 pair of small legs and 2 pair of large but feeble wings marked by several faint brown lines . Entire body is covered by minutes coloured scales. Abdomen of female is larger and much distended due to great number of eggs it contains.