Overview
This lecture explains the origins, process, and steps involved in silk production, focusing on the lifecycle of the silkworm and the making of silk thread.
Origins of Silk & Sericulture
- Silk is produced from the spit of Bombyx Mori, also known as the silkworm.
- The process of producing silk is called Sericulture, originating in China about 4,800 years ago.
Lifecycle of the Silkworm
- Adult moths lay eggs which hatch after 14 days into larvae.
- Domesticated adult moths cannot fly due to millennia of breeding.
- Silkworm larvae feed exclusively on mulberry leaves and eat continuously for around 42 days.
Cocoon Spinning & Harvesting
- After feeding, larvae spin a silk cocoon over 3 to 8 days using saliva from their glands.
- Each cocoon is made of a single strand about 1,000 feet long.
- The chrysalis inside the cocoon is killed by steam, sun, or boiling to harvest the silk.
Processing Silk Thread
- Cocoons are loosened in hot water and the long silk strands are unwound.
- Several strands are twisted together to form silk thread.
- Raw silk (outer cocoon) and fine silk (inner cocoon) are separated and processed.
Refining and Dyeing Silk
- Workers remove lumps and debris from the threads.
- Silk is dyed in various colors.
- A warping wheel divides the fine silk thread for weaving.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Sericulture — the process of cultivating silkworms for silk production.
- Bombyx Mori — the species of moth whose larvae produce silk.
- Cocoon — the protective case spun by silkworm larvae from silk thread.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Review the steps of silk production and key terms for quiz preparation.