The life cycle stages of the silkworm moth

OVA: Incubation 10-14 days

IMAGO: 5 - 7 DAYS

LARVA: 27 DAYS

PUPA: 14 DAYS

The life cycle stages of the silkworm moth Bombyx mori Phylum, Arthropoda; Class, Insecta;

Order, Lepidoptera

Newly laid eggs are a creamy yellow, after a few days the fertile live eggs will be gray

STAGE 2 - LARVA: 27 DAYS (5 instars)

After four days the first molt will occur.

After hatching the tiny larvae grow the best if they are fed on thnew soft leaves of the mulberry tree. Switch over to larger leaves as they grow. The silkworms(larvae) do nothing but eat. Keep them in a flat open box. They will not crawl away. Simply place leaves in the container and place the silkworms on the leaves. Keep them at room temperature, but not in direct sunlight.

STAGE 3 - PUPA: 14 DAYS

The silkworm will spin a silk cocoon as protection for the pupa. Cocoons are shades of white, cream and yellow. The glistening shine of the silk gives an impression of silver and shades of gold. After a final molt inside the cocoon, the larva change into the brown pupa. Further changes inside the pupa result in an emerging moth

STAGE 4 - IMAGO: 5 - 7 DAYS

An adult silk moth emerges from the cocoon about two weeks afte r completion. This is the adult stage of the silkworm, Bombyx mori. The body of the moth is covered in short fine hair and wings are creamy white with faint brown lines. Moths can not fly or consume nutrition. Females are larger and less active than the males. Male moths move about beating their wings seeking females