Chapter 1
The biology of the silkworm
Chapter 2
The ancient art of sericulture
Chapter 3
Secrets of the Silk Road
Chapter 4
Modern science and high-tech silk
YOUR GOAL
Master of The story of silk
Ch 1 · The biology of the silkworm
schopenhauer The Silkworm
I spin a single thread of shining grace, A thousand meters in this cozy space.
schopenhauer Silkworms spin silk using specialized salivary glands that produce liquid proteins.
schopenhauer Silkworms eat only fresh white mulberry leaves to produce high-quality silk.
BETA
schopenhauer Match the production steps to learn how silkworms transform mulberry leaves into thread.
Fun Fact
Silkworm super appetite: A silkworm multiplies its hatching weight by 10,000 times in just one month.
Glossary
silkworm (noun)
The larva of a moth that spins a cocoon of fine, strong, lustrous fiber. This domesticated insect feeds exclusively on white mulberry leaves to synthesize the proteins fibroin and sericin.
The larva of a moth that spins a cocoon of fine, strong, lustrous fiber. This domesticated insect feeds exclusively on white mulberry leaves to synthesize the proteins fibroin and sericin.
Quiz
How many times does a silkworm multiply its hatchling weight before spinning its cocoon?
Quiz
Approximately how long is the single continuous thread of a single silkworm cocoon?
Quiz
What is the scientific name of the fully domesticated silkmoth used in silk production?
Quiz
What physical ability has the adult domesticated silkmoth lost due to thousands of years of selective breeding?