Silk

The silk fiber is obtained from the cocoon of the silk moth. The rearing of silkworms to obtain silk is termed as sericulture. The silk fibers so obtained are weaved to make silk cloth.

A silk saree

Tassar silk, manga silk, Kosa silk are the most commonly known silk varieties. The most common silk moth among all is the mulberry silk moth which is soft, lustrous, and elastic and can be dyed into beautiful colors.

The life cycle of silkworm:

1. The female silk moth lays eggs. Which hatch larvae also are known as caterpillar or silkworm.

2. They grow in size and when the caterpillar is ready to enter the next stage of its life history called pupa.

3. During these movements, the caterpillar secretes fiber made of a protein that hardens on exposure to air and becomes silk fiber.

4. The caterpillar soon covers itself completely by a covering of silk fibers known as a cocoon.

5. The further development of the moth continues inside the cocoon. Silk fibers are used for weaving silk cloth.

The life cycle of silkworm