4 Types Of Silk Moths

Hickory and walnut trees are among their hosts.

4 types of silk moths. It has several attributes which set it above other fibers. Moths are flying insects in the order of lepidoptera which is also the same order to which butterflies belong. Moths are members of the same genetic order as butterflies lepidoptera. Silkworms which are of massive commercial importance for the production of silk are actually the larvae of a moth bombyx mori.

Whatever the source these moths and worms produce a protein fibroin that is the main element in silk. The species of these moths is referred to as a generalist feeder which means that they consume almost all types of plant species including many herbs and trees. Deciduous trees could host many other types of silk moth caterpillars such as tuliptree silkmoth which lives in a magnolia by the name of tulip poplar. It is resistant to dust and moths.

Among them mulberry silk is the most important and contributes as much as 90 per cent of world production therefore the term silk in general refers to the silk of the mulberry silkworm. Iii samia ricini and philosamia ricini reared on. Out of the four different silk types the two ie mulberry and eri are manufactured from domesticated silkworms whereas tasar and munga silkworms are wild in nature although attempts are in progress to domesticate them too. The life cycle of these four types of silk moths are much in common as they lay eggs from which caterpillars hatches.

A list of various types of moths with stunning pictures. Silk exudes elegance and sophistication by its shine and opulence. I bombyx mori produces mulberry silkthese silk moths feed on mulberry leaves and hence the silk produced by them is called mulberry silk. There are four types of natural silk which are commercially known and produced in the world.

Silk has been used for thousands of years dating back to indus valley civilization which was present around 2500 bc. Ii antheraea mylitte dury the indian tassar silkworm produces tassar silk. The wingspan of these moths ranges from 45 65 cm and the wings are orange yellowish in color with pointed and marked forewings. You might not realise but silk can be made from many varieties of silkworm and sometimes no worms at all as youll discover in a minute.

There are over 160000 recorded species of moths across the globe with around 11000 of these being found in the united states and around 2500 being found in the united kingdom. Four varieties of silk moths producing four types of silks are found in india. Silk is both softer than human hair but as strong as wire. Different types of silkworm will create fabrics with different characteristics.

It is an economically important insect being a primary producer of silka silkworms preferred food are white mulberry leaves though they may eat other mulberry species and even the osage.