Sericulture, the production of raw silk by means of raising caterpillars (larvae), particularly those of the domesticated silkworm (Bombyx mori).Silkworms (moths) are reared for
production of silk. Bombyx mori is the most
commonly used variety for this purpose. The
life cycle of the silk moth consists of four
stages, namely egg, larva, pupa and adult.
Thousands of eggs deposited by female
moths are incubated artificially to shorten
the incubation period. Larvae hatching out of
eggs are released on mulberry plants. Larvae
are nourished by feeding on mulberry leaves.
After feeding for 3 – 4 days, larvae move to
branches of mulberry plant. The silk thread
is formed from the secretion of their salivary
glands. Larvae spin this thread around
themselves to form a cocoon. The cocoon
may be spherical in shape.
Ten days before the pupa turns into an
adult, all the cocoons are transferred into
boiling water. due to the boiling water, the
pupa dies in the cocoon and silk fibres become
loose. These fibres are unwound, processed
and reeled. Various kinds of fabric is woven
from silk threads.