Quick Answer: The model, life history of L.H. silkworm, presents the life cycle of the mulberry silkworm, Bombyx mori, from egg through caterpillar and cocoon to the adult moth. A silkworm life history model is used to teach complete metamorphosis and how silk is obtained in sericulture.
The Silkworm Life Cycle
The silk moth lays a few hundred tiny eggs, which hatch into larvae that feed only on mulberry leaves. The larvae, the silkworms, eat almost continuously and moult four times, passing through five instars. At the end of the last instar the larva stops feeding, spins a cocoon from a single continuous silk thread made by its modified salivary glands, and pupates inside it. The moth emerges by softening one end of the cocoon, mates and lays eggs; the domesticated adult cannot fly and does not feed.
Sericulture depends on interrupting this cycle. For reeled silk, most cocoons are heated or steamed before the moth can emerge, because an emerging moth breaks the thread. The unbroken filament, often several hundred metres to over a kilometre long, is unwound, and several filaments are twisted together to make raw silk. India produces mulberry silk as well as the non-mulberry tasar, eri and muga silks from other silkworm species.
The L.H. in the listing title is most likely catalogue shorthand repeating life history; the item is a silkworm life cycle model. Its presentation, number of stages and size are not given and can be confirmed.
Specifications
| Insect | Mulberry silkworm, Bombyx mori |
| Stages | Eggs, larva (silkworm), cocoon with pupa, adult moth |
| Development type | Complete metamorphosis |
| Applied topic | Sericulture and silk production |
| Presentation, stage count and size | Confirm at enquiry |
Care & Handling
- Hold the silkworm life history model by its base or frame; cocoons and moth wings are delicate.
- Keep it away from damp to prevent mould on any natural materials in the display.
- Dust with a soft brush and store it covered.
Where the Model Is Used
- Insect metamorphosis in middle and secondary science
- Economic zoology lessons on sericulture and useful insects
- The origin of natural fibres in textile and home science courses
- Comparing mulberry silk with tasar, eri and muga silk
Why Choose LabEquip
Economic zoology and agriculture courses in silk-producing regions often want the silkworm cycle on display, as do schools teaching useful insects. LabEquip lists this model within its biology lab products, and the beneficial insects chart places the silkworm among other useful species. Ask about stages and presentation through the contact page.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the silkworm eat?
The mulberry silkworm feeds only on the leaves of mulberry trees. Sericulture farms therefore grow mulberry alongside their rearing houses, and leaf quality directly affects cocoon and silk quality.
Which part of the silkworm makes silk?
A pair of modified salivary glands, the silk glands, produce the silk proteins fibroin and sericin. The silk is pushed out through a spinneret below the mouth and hardens on contact with air.
Why are cocoons heated before the moth emerges?
An emerging moth softens and breaks through the cocoon, cutting the continuous filament into short lengths that cannot be reeled. Stifling the pupa with heat or steam keeps the thread whole.
How many times does a silkworm moult?
Usually four times, giving five larval stages or instars. Before each moult the larva stops eating for a day or so; after the last instar it spins its cocoon.
Can adult silk moths fly?
The domesticated Bombyx mori moth has been bred for thousands of years and has lost the ability to fly. The adult also does not feed; it lives only a few days to mate and lay eggs.
What are tasar, eri and muga silk?
They are non-mulberry silks from other silkworm species. Tasar comes from Antheraea species feeding on trees such as arjun and asan, eri from Samia ricini on castor, and muga, a golden silk from Assam, from Antheraea assamensis.
Last Updated: September 2026
Reviews
There are no reviews yet.