(silkworm)
Silkworm is a larva of various types of silk butterflies. It is named after it because it builds on itself a cocoon of silk threads that can be used to produce natural silk, where the best and most famous types of silk can be obtained from a specific type of butterfly known scientifically as Bombyx mori. , And feed the larvae of this type of butterflies on the leaves of mulberry trees, China is the original home, and all kinds of silkworm consecrated, that is, it depends on the human feeding.
(life cycle)
The silk butterfly life cycle consists of the following stages:
Eggs: The females of the silk butterfly lay between (200-500) a small egg, lemon yellow, but later turn black. The eggs hatch after 10 days and the larvae emerge.
The larvae: Once larvae, the larvae begin to fatten the mulberry leaves. Initially, the larvae are pale brown with brown lines on the chest, and have small black hairs, but they become white after the dissolution, and the hair disappears, showing a horn on the tail , And at the time of the split for the fifth time the skin of the larvae more tight, and color is tilted to yellow.
The larvae form a cocoon of silky thread. To build the cocoon, the glands located under the larvae produce an insoluble protein called fibroin. It is mixed with soluble gum. This mixture forms the silk fibers between 300-900 cm. It takes about three days to build the cocoon, and the butterfly emerges from the cocoon after about three weeks.
Butterfly: Live butterfly after leaving the cocoon for a short period of not more than five days, where the eggs and then die, the color of the butterflies male and female blond leaning light brown, with some dark lines, and wings of creamy color with dark veins extending to the parties, but Females are about three times as large as a male, and both can not fly or eat, due to reduction or lack of mouth.
(Silkworm breeding)
Silkworm breeding is a simple project that can be easily implemented, especially since its cost is low. The following are the most important materials to be provided to start the project:
[Source of food][Hatching Box][Container for the incubation of mature worms][Container fabric]