Question

Explain the life cycle of a silk moth​

Answer 1

Answer

Silk moth is an insect from which the silk is obtained. The silk is then spun, rolled into yarns and then it's ready to make the clothes from silk.

$\:$

$\bigstar$ Life cycle of silk moth :-

• The eggs of the silk moth hatch to form the organisms called larveas or caterpillars. These caterpillars continuously feeds on the mulberry leaves for a few days and increase in its size.
• Now, the caterpillars are ready and starts spinning a fibre which is made up of proteins. This protein hardens on exposure to air and becomes silk fibre.
• Soon, the caterpiller completely covers itself by silk fibres and turns into pupa or cocoon.
• Development of the moth occurs inside the cocoon and after few weeks silk moth will break the cocoon and emerge out to start laying eggs again.

Answer 2

Explanation:

• The silkworms are continuously fed on finely-chopped mulberry leaves, for about six weeks. During this period, they grow in size and their glands that produce silk develop andattain one-third the size of the larvae. At this stage, silkworm is ready to enter the next stage of its life cycle called pupa.

• Pupa holds itself by weaving a net around its body by swinging its head from side to side in the form of eight

• While swinging the head in this manner, the silkworm secretes a wet sticky substance. This substance is made up of protein, which hardens on exposure to air and becomes silk fibre. Soon, the silkworm is completely covered by silk fibres. This covering is known as cocoon.

• A cocoon is spun by using two long continuous fibres from two glands. Finally, the two ends of the fibres are joined by using a sticky substance, i.e., sericine. The silkworm continues to develop inside the cocoon. Once the cocoons are spun, the pupae turn into adult moths.