Question

Silk is produced by

Answer 1

• Silk is a natural protein fibre which can be used as a textile fibre. It is one of the important animal fibres obtained from silkworm.

Types:

• The different types of silk are produced by different types of silkworms. It can be differentiated on the basis of lustre and texture.
• Few examples are kosa, tassar, mooga, etc. They are produced by various types of silkmoths. One of the common types is the mulberry silkmoth.

Life cycle of Silkmoth:

• Silkworms are not actually born as worms rather as larvae and caterpillar hatched from the eggs of silkmoth. In the beginning, the female silk moth lays eggs and then the larvae are hatched out of the eggs and are known as the caterpillars.
• They grow up in size and before they enter in the second stage which is called as pupa the caterpillar swings their head from sides and makes the shape of eight every time.
• During all these times they secrete fibre made up of protein which when comes in contact of air and it hardens to become a silk fibre.
• After this, the caterpillar completely covers itself by the fibre and turns into pupa. This covering is known as the cocoon.
• The silkmoth further develops in the covering called a cocoon. The silk fibre is obtained from this silkmoth’s cocoon.