Natural Silk

Silk is a natural continuous protein filament extruded by silk worm. It possesses all the desirable
properties of a textile fibre. It is solidified protein produced by certain caterpillars which will encase
themselves in the form of cocoon.

DIFFERENT TYPES OF SILK NATURAL

The silk industry can be mainly classified into mulberry and non-mulberry. The non-mulberry silk
industry consists of TASSAR, ERI and MUGA silks. Out of these four varieties the mulberry silk industry
accounts for 80% of nations total production.

SILK PRODUCING COUNTRIES IN THE WORLD

Major silk producing countries in the world today are: Japan, China, Soviet Union, India, Italy, South
Korea, Turkey, Iran, Brazil, Spain, France, Sicily, Syria and Austria.

SERICULTURE - LIFE CYCLE OF SILK WORM

There are four stages in the life cycle of a silk worm:
1. Egg
2. Caterpillar
3. Chrysalis or Pupa
4. Moth