Question

Silk is obtained from which of these stages?

• A. Cocoon
• B. Larva
• C. Adult
• D. Pupa

Answer 1

The correct option is A Cocoon

When the silk worm forms a covering around itself by secreting a protein through its head, this is called as the cocoon stage. This is the most desirable stage for the silk producers. It is at this time that the cocoons are delivered to the factory by the farmer. These factories are called as filature operations. Once the cocoons reach the filature operations, they are sorted by colour, size, shape and texture. After the cocoons have been sorted, they have to be boiled in water, while they are still intact, for 5 minutes while they are being turned gently. They are then taken out of the water and a dissecting needle is used to start picking up the strands. Once a single strand is found that will come off easily it has to be wound around a pencil. This is how the cocoon is loosened so that it can be unwound in 1 continuous thread, which are collected into skeins. The process is called as reeling. Since, the thread is too fine for commercial use, between 3 and 10 strands then have to be reeled together to produce the desired diameter of raw silk. This is known as reeled silk.