Question

Describe in brief the life cycle of a silkworm.

Answer 1

Stages in the life cycle of a silk worm are as follows:

1. Laying of eggs: The female silk worm lays many tiny eggs.

2. Larvae (or caterpillars): Black worms called larvae (or caterpillars) are hatched out of the eggs. These larvae feed on mulberry leaves for four weeks, during which they shed their skin four times in a process called moulting. After the larvae grows, it stops eating and weaves a net around itself. It secretes a protein fibre by swinging its head either side which solidifies on exposure to air and becomes silk fibre.

3. Cocoon: This is the pupa stage where the silk worm completes the formation of a cocoon in a week (under ideal conditions). These cocoons are sent for processing to produce silk cloth.

4. Silk moth: Pupae inside the cocoon develops into silk moths and the life cycle of the silk worm is completed.