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Larvae
Larvae
After Silkworm eggs hatch tiny back larvae or what are commonly called caterpillars, emerge and start to eat the Mulberry leaves. The caterpillar continues to eat unit its too big for its skin then mults. This molting occurs an number of times before the caterpillar spins a cocoon of silk.
The silk worms in the photo are our class pets and are only a couple of days old. They have grown alot since we got them -
Pupa
Pupa
Once the caterpillar has fully grown it spins a cocoon to help protect the development of the pupa. It takes about three days for the caterpillar to finish spinning the cocoon which is about the size of a peanut shell and look like fairy floss. This photo shows how our silkworm caterpillars spun their cocoon on the edge of the container. -
Adult Moth
Silk moth
Over the next two weeks the pupa develops and emerges from the cocoon as a moth. The silk moth is wet, has six jointed legs, two wings and feathery antanna. Once the moth dries it can expand its crumpled wings, however cannot fly because its body is too heavy. -
Eggs
The silk moths flutter around until they find a mate to reproduce. The male does soon after mating whereas the female lays sticky pale yellow eggs to complete the life cycles.
