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Izismile.com » Pictures » The process of silk-making (13 pics)

The process of silk-making (13 pics)

Posted in Pictures 2 Jul 2009 / 8271 views

Silks are produced by several other insects, but only the silk of moth caterpillars has been used for textile manufacture.
Silk moths lay eggs on specially prepared paper. The eggs hatch and the caterpillars (silkworms) are fed fresh mulberry leaves. After about 35 days and 4 moltings, the caterpillars are 10,000 times heavier than when hatched, and are ready to begin spinning a cocoon. A straw frame is placed over the tray of caterpillars, and each caterpillar begins spinning a cocoon by moving its head. Two glands produce liquid silk and force it through openings in the head called spinnerets. Liquid silk is coated in sericin, a water-soluble protective gum, and solidifies on contact with the air. Within 2–3 days, the caterpillar spins about 1 mile of filament and is completely encased in a cocoon. The silk farmers then kill most caterpillars by heat (100 °C), leaving some to metamorphose into moths to breed the next generation of caterpillars.