![]() ![]() The fifth instar larva is fully grown and consists of three pairs of jointed legs and five pairs of unjointed stumpy prolegs.After each molting, the larva neither feeds nor moves for the next 20-24 hours.In silkworm’s life cycle, there are 5 instars of larva. * Instar is the larval stage between two successive moltings in the life cycle of any insect. They grow very fast and undergo four moltings (changing the skin) to change into different instars.įifth instar ( with spiracles, anal horn, prolegs, mandibular mouth parts).They are actively voracious and feed on mulberry leaves for 25-32 days.The newly hatched caterpillar is 6mm long, brownish in color and moves in a characteristic looping manner.Eggs hatch into larvae within 10-12 days.In the early spring, with the enough supply of food, the eggs are hatched inside the incubator at the temperature of 18-25 0.In sericulture, the eggs are collected and stored in a cold place when the food (mulberry leaves) are not abundant to feed the larvae.In cold, the eggs don’t hatch for a long time and the increase in temperature causes them to hatch faster.Female lays about 300 small, white, round (pin head shaped) eggs in cluster on mulberry leaves and she dies.Like any other insect, its life cycle completes in four stages, i.e.Male dies soon after mating and female dies after laying eggs. It completes its life cycle in about 45 days.Male and female copulate in tail to tail position and the fertilization is internal.The adult moths seldom feed and are concerned with reproduction only. Male and female are distinct where the female is bigger than the male with distended body.Minute powdery scales cover the entire body.The thorax bears three pairs of legs and two pairs of wings.The proboscis is reduced, so they don’t feed.The head bears a pair of compound eyes and a pair of feathery antennae.The body is divided into head, thorax and abdomen.An adult silk moth is strongly built, about 2.5 cm long and is creamy white in color. ![]() Seri silkworm ( Bombyx mori) which feeds on mulberry leaves.Eri silkworm ( Attacus ricini) which feeds on castor leaves.In Nepal, two types of silkworm are reared for the commercial production of raw silk.Silkworm is beneficial to us as we extract silk from its cocoon. ![]()
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March 2023
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