SIlk Worms

The coveted secret of silkworm cultivation began 5000 years ago in China. The production of raw silk by raising silkworms( sericulture) spread to Korea and later to Japan and southern Asia. Sericulture was introduced to the United States in the colonial times, but the climate was not compatible. The Phylum of the silk moth is Arthropoda, the class is Insecta, Lepidoptera. The silkworm is a larva of the silk moth. The are worm-like with a short …showed first 75 words of 250 total…

…showed last 75 words of 250 total…Asia. Today silk is cultivated in Japan, China, Spain, France, and Italy. The textile industry as developed many artificial fibers to replace the use of silk. The silk industry has a commercial value of $200-$500 million annually. One cocoon is made of single thread about 914 meters long. About 3000 cocoons are needed to make a pound of silk. You can find silkworm eggs and artificial diet in th Carolina Biological Supply Company and Ward’s Biology.