Silk Worm

Unit: Sericulture
Introduction: There are many kinds of natural silk which are commercially known and produced. Among them Mulberry
silk is the most important and contributes as much as 95% of the world production. In sericulture, commercial rearing of
the mulberry silk butterfly and larvae is done. The larva is called silk worm. Silkworm Bombyx mori, is the source for
production of fabulous silk and sericulture industry, which has been domesticated more than 4000 years ago.
Silk is the product of pair of salivary glands present in thoracic cavity of the larvae of especial moth.
The study of cultivation of the food plants for silk producing caterpillars, their rearing and post-harvest handling of the
harvested cocoon or the silk they produce is sericulture. Sericulture or silk farming thus includes cultivation of food plants
for the good quality leaves of high nutritive value.
In simple words, Sericulture is the process of cultivating silkworms and extracting silk from them. The rearing of
silkworm and post harvest handling of silk threads.
Taxonomy of Mulberry silkworm
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Family: Bombycidae
Genus: Bombyx
Species: B. mori
Importance and Scope
1. Queen of fiber: Silk is well known as Queen of fibre, which is admired by people throughout the world for its beauty,
color and comfort. Ever since the discovery of silk, it has played an important role in the history of man. Even today, silk
is universally sought by the world's top fashion designers. Japanese use silk for making their national dress 'Kimono'.
2. Employment opportunities: Silkworm rearing utilizes waste manpower from the age of 8 to 80 years. This provides
employment opportunity for all age and generates extra income utilizing the extra time of employees as well. There is no
doubt that silkworm rearing supports rural people. fosters agricultural industry and finally promotes national economy.
3. Industrial Value: Filament of mulberry silkworm is used for water absorption, dyeing, thermo tolerance insulation and
luster. Raw silk is used for parachutes, tire lining, electric insulation, artificial blood vessels and surgical structure.
4. Medicinal Value: Silkworm pupa is used for oil extraction, protein extraction, and amino acid vitamin B2 preparation.
Diseased ( muscardine ) silkworm larvae and pupae are used for medicine, phytol is raw material found in silkworm
which is used for vitamin E and K preparation.
5. Economic Value: Every part of mulberry plant is economically important, silkworm larvae feed on mulberry leaves,
fruits are used for wine preparation, bark is used for high grade fiber making, tree trunk and branches are used for fire
wood and farm tool handles. Mulberry tree have some medicinal value too.
6. Organic Matter: Excreta of silkworm larvae are used for chlorophyll extraction. It is good source of organic matter
and it can also be used as food for pig, cattle, sheep and fish.
7. Vegetative Cover: Mulberry planting cover the barren land, prevent soil erosion and provide extra green foliage to
livestock.
Silkworm in Nepal
The credit of discovery of silk thread and its properties goes to Chinese Empress, SiLing Some 4000 years ago and the
name silk is in her honor.
 Japan, China, Korea, Italy, France, Russia, Brazil and India are the chief silk producing countries at present.
 In Nepal attempts were made during the Regime of King Tribhuwan (1911-55).
 Expert of India established silkworm nursery and planted few nursery plants at Birgunj.
 Juddha Samsher organized Eri silkworm exhibition during 1940-45 at Kathmandu and silkworm and silk from Jhapa
was brought.
 Cottage industry department established its own mulberry farm at Tripureshwor but dropped out in 1956.
 In 1966, Entomology section of Department of Agriculture and Research carried out preliminary study.
 In 1974-75 Industrial Entomology Project was lunched and later transferred to Khopasi, now its running Sericulture
Development program.
 Now Nine Sericulture Development Offices are conducted in Nepal.
Mulberry cultivation
Mulberry (Morus in Latin) is the main feed plant of Bombyx mori L. Among silk moth, mulberry silkworm (Bombyx
mori) is monophagous i.e. its larvae feed only on leaves of the mulberry tree Morus spp. There are over 200 species of
mulberry varieties. It is produced in China, Korea, Japan, India, Russia, France, Latin, America and Africa. Mulberry is
the basic food for silkworm, and the bulk of silk goods in the world is produced from mulberry silkworms. Therefore,
producing mulberry leaves on scientific basis is essential for organizing sericulture on sound economic lines. Under
intensive cultivation practices in tropical countries, leaves of about 30 tons per hectare can be harvested per year.
The study of scientific cultural practices of mulberry plants (Morus spp.) is called Moriculture.
Sapling production and nursery management
Propagation
Mulberry can be propagated by seeds (sexual propagation) or cuttings (asexual propagation).
1. Sexual propagation: In sexual propagation, mature seeds are collected, washed and dried. An area under shade is dug,
manure and prepared for seedling nursery. Then viable seeds soaked in hot water for a day to soften a hard testa for easy
and successful germination are sown in rows. Seedlings are thinned when they grow to a height of 3.5 to 5 cm. They
would be subject to sun light during cool hours. Transplanting is done with a distance of 22.5 cm three months after
sowing. These seedlings grow for one to two years are then transplanted to field or used for grafting.
Asexual propagation: This can be done by cutting, grafting or budding.
Selection of mother plant: Mother plant should be true to genetic character and free from insect pest and pathogen.
Nursery bed preparation: Soil should be well pulverized and free from insect pest and pathogen. size for nursery bed : 10-
15 cm raised bed, 1m width and length – as required or

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Unit: Sericulture

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