Question

Describe the life cycle of the silk moth.

Answer 1

An adult female silk moth lays about 300 to 400 tiny eggs at a time. These eggs hatch into caterpillars. This is called as the larval stage. Each caterpillar, stays in this stage for about 3-4 weeks feeding on the mulberry leaves and secreting protein filaments with the help of the glands present on its head. The caterpillar then starts depositing filament layers around its body, which may take 3 -7 days, forming a hard pouch-like structure called cocoon. The caterpillar transforms into a pupa inside the cocoon. In the final stage of the life cycle, the pupa transforms into a male or female silk moth.