SERICULTURE

SERICULTURE

“Sericulture or silk production is the breeding and management

of silkworms for the commercial production of silk.”
 Silkworm

Common name: Silkworm

Technical name: Bombyx mori
Family: Bombycidae

Bombyx mori feeds on mulberry leaves.

 Life stages of silkworm

Egg Larva

Pupa Adult
 Rearing of silkworm

One ounce of seed contains 20, 000-22, 000 eggs. The seed is brought to the
plains in the month of February. Keeping in view the sprouting time (March) of
mulberry trees.
 Rearing of silkworm

During the first two stages, the caterpillars should be provided

with the chopped leaves as their mouth parts are not well
developed.
The caterpillars pass through five moults and in
the beginning of every moult they stop feeding
and keep 1/3rd of its anterior body raised.
Reeling process of silk extraction from cocoon

The cocoons are cooked in hot water and the silk

fibre is unwound from the cocoons. This process is
called reeling.
 “The process of killing the pupae inside the cocoon
is known as stifling suffocation.”

By sun heat By steam

Exposure of cocoons for 2-3 days to Passing steam over the cocoons will
sun after covering with black cloth. kill the pupae.
Reeling process of silk extraction from cocoon
Reeling process of silk extraction from cocoon

The cocoons are soaked in hot water (95°-97°C) for 10-15

minutes to soften the gum that binds the silk threads
together. This process is called cooking.
Reeling process of silk extraction from cocoon

Threads from several cocoons are wound together on

wheels (“charakhas”) to form the reels of raw silk.
SERICULTURE