Question

How is silk obtained?

Answer 1

silk is obtained from the cocoons of the larvae of the mulberry silkworm

Answer 2

From Cotton to Silk :

$\textbf{Step 1 }$:

Eggs of silk moth are stored carefully on strips of cloth or paper and sold to the silk moth farmers.

$\textbf{Step 2 }$:

The eggs are kept by the farmers under proper conditions till the caterpillars come out from the cocoons.

$\textbf{Step 3 }$:

The silk moth caterpillars are kept then kept in bamboo trays and fed on fresh mulberry leaves.

$\textbf{Step 4 }$:

When the caterpillars stops eating, they shifted to bamboo chambers provided with racks, twigs. Here, they spin cocoons.

$\textbf{Step 5 }$:

At the end of pupal stage, the moth cuts the cocoon and flies out.

$\textbf{Step 6}$:

The cocoons are then stored out according to their colours, size, shape, and texture.

$\textbf{Step 7}$:

The stored cocoons are collected and immersed in boiling water to kill the insect inside them.

$\textbf{Step 8 }$:

The cocoons are given a series of hot & cold immersions, to make them soft.

$\textbf{Step 9 }$:

The silk filaments are separated from the cocoons. This process is called reeling of the silk . The resulting fibre is known as raw silk, which can be dyed into various colours.

$\textbf{Step 10 }$:

The silk fibres are then spun to get silk threads.