- The female silk moth lays eggs on the leaves of the Mulberry tree.
- The eggs hatch to form Larvae known as caterpillars or silkworms.
- Caterpillars grow in size and enter the Pupa stage.
- It weaves a net to hold itself and then swings its head from side to side in the form of a figure of eight (8).
- During this movement, it secretes fibre made of protein, which hardens when exposed to air . This is known as the silk fibre .
- The silkworm or Caterpillar covers itself completely with silk fibres, this covering is known as Cocoon.
- Further development of the Pupa into the moth takes place in the cocoon .
- When the development into an adult silk moth is complete, then the cocoon splits and a silk moth comes out.
- The adult female silk moth then lays more eggs .
In this way, life of the silkworm continues.
What is a Caterpillar or Silkworm?
The female silk moth lays eggs from which hatch larvae which are called caterpillars or silkworms .
What is Pupa?
When a silkworm is ready to enter the next stage of development it is known as Pupa .
It first weaves a net to hold itself then it swings its head from side to side in the form of a figure of eight(8) weaving a cocoon.
What is Cocoon?
The silky covering spun by a silkworm in the Pupa stage is called Cocoon.
