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Bombyx mori
The silkworm is the larva or caterpillar of the domesticated silkmoth, Bombyx mori. It is an economically important insect, being a primary producer of silk. A silkworm's preferred food is white mulberry leaves, but it may also eat the leaves of any other mulberry tree. It is entirely dependent on humans for its reproduction and does not occur naturally in the wild. Sericulture, the practice of breeding silkworms for the production of raw silk, has been underway for at least 5,000 years in China. The silkworm was domesticated from the wild silkmoth Bombyx mandarina which has a range from northern India to northern China, Korea, Japan and far the eastern regions of Russia. The silkworm is raised as a hobby in Spain by children. Children often pass on the eggs, creating a noncommercial population. The experience provides children with the opportunity to witness the lifecycle of silkworms.
Spotted on May 15, 2012
Submitted on May 15, 2012
10 Comments
Sorry, I did not take any video
Wow that's great, if there's any way for you to upload video of them flying on here that would be fantastic!
Yes, we got six!
Great photos! Has any silkworm moths ever taken flight, I've raised some and had one male fly across my room.
No, the butterflies do not fly, and I do not think they would be able to survive in the wild. The species is entirely dependent upon humans for survival. They just keep them in the same paperboard boxes where they kept the worms. Then they lay the eggs and the cycle begins again.
Nice information. So when the kids raise them, they turn into butterflys and then they let them go?
Yo nunca tuve, pero le han regalado unos cuantos a mi hija y ando como loco por los parques de Madrid buscando moreras
Yo los criaba de pequeña..me pasaba la vida buscando hojas de morera :-)
Thanks annorion
Nice series!