Types of indian silk moths. Bombyx mori the domestic silk moth is an insect from the moth family bombycidaeit is the closest relative of bombyx mandarina the wild silk moththe silkworm is the larva or caterpillar of a silk moth. This moth gets its name from the united states where it was discovered to be a meal pest that largely feeds on maize or better known as indian corn it is a pyraloid moth that belongs to the pyralidae family. The life cycle of these four types of silk moths are much in common as they lay eggs from which caterpillars hatches. For 600 years the silk of these larvae was exclusively reserved for use by members of the royal families of assam in northern india hence the name assam silkmoth.
Attacus taprobanis is another large moth of saturniidae family and very similar to attacus atlas native to southern india. The tasar silkworms belong to the genus antheraea and they are all wild silkworms. 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 larvae of this moth produce tussar silk and exquisite silk which has a glossy finish is naturally stain resistant and becomes better with age.
The atlas moths are cultivated for their silk in india along with indian tasar silkmoth. 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.